Postal voting packs have begun landing on doorsteps for voters in the Cromarty Firth and Eilean a’ Cheò wards ahead of this month’s Highland Council by-elections.
Voters are being urged to take their time and read the instructions carefully when completing their ballot to ensure their vote is counted.
Each postal pack includes everything needed to cast your vote.
Inside you will find your ballot paper, a postal voting statement, two envelopes and a helpful guide.
For anyone unsure about the process, the Council’s website offers a clear step-by-step guide and a short video showing how to complete and return your postal vote.
If you have requested a postal vote, remember you cannot vote in person at a polling station.
However, if you are unable to return your postal pack by post in time, you can hand it in at any polling station within your ward on polling day itself.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 19 June.
A full list of polling station locations is available on the Council’s website.
If your postal pack has not arrived, you can request a replacement by phoning 01349 886657.
For those voting in person, poll cards have already been sent out.
Voters are being reminded to double-check their poll card, as polling stations may have changed since previous elections.
There is no need to bring voter ID with you when voting in person.
These by-elections will use the single transferable vote system.
Voters should number the candidates in order of preference, placing a number 1 next to their first choice, 2 beside their second choice, and so on.
You can rank as many or as few candidates as you wish.
It is important to avoid making any other marks on the ballot paper, as this could mean your vote is not counted.
Here are the candidates standing for each ward:
Ward 6 Cromarty Firth
Steve Chisholm – Alba Party for independence
Ross Costigane – Scottish Liberal Democrats
Richard James Cross – Independent
Ryan Forbes – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
Allan MacDonald – Reform UK
Odette MacDonald – Scottish National Party (SNP)
Michael Robert Perera – Scottish Labour Party
Martin Rattray – Independent
Anne Thomas – Scottish Greens
Ward 10 Eilean a’ Cheò
John Coupland – Reform UK
Campbell Dickson – Independent
Christine Gillies – Independent
Katy Lawrence – Scottish Greens
Màrtainn Mac a’ Bhàillidh – Scottish National Party (SNP)
Jonathan MacDonald – Independent
George MacPherson – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
Fay Thomson – Scottish Liberal Democrats
For full details of these by-elections, visit the Highland Council’s website.
