Postal vote packs have now been dispatched for upcoming by-elections in Ward 7 (Tain and Easter Ross) and Ward 11 (Caol and Mallaig), scheduled for Thursday 25 September 2025.
The Highland Council is urging postal voters to follow instructions carefully when completing their ballot paper and postal voting statement to ensure their vote is valid.
Each postal pack includes:
- A postal voting statement (Envelope A)
- Ballot paper
- Return envelope (Envelope B)
- A voter guide
A video tutorial is also available to help voters correctly complete and return their ballot.
Voters who have opted for a postal vote cannot vote in person, but completed packs can be handed in at any polling station within the relevant ward between 7am and 10pm on polling day.
If a postal pack has not arrived by Thursday 18 September, voters should call 01349 886657 to request a replacement.
In-person voters should check their poll cards carefully.
In Ward 7, Fearn Primary School and Nigg Village Hall will not be used as polling stations for this by-election, instead, voters from these districts should go to Balintore Seaboard Memorial Hall.
To support access, a dial-a-bus service will be available for voters in the Nigg and Fearn area on polling day.
It runs from 09:00–12:00 and 13:00–14:30. To book, call 01862 892166 before 18:30 on Wednesday 24 September.
Voting will be conducted using the single transferable vote system.
Voters should rank candidates in order of preference using numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.). Marks like crosses or ticks could invalidate the vote.
Candidates
Ward 7 – Tain and Easter Ross
- Manuel Androulakakis – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
- Andrew Barnett – Scottish Greens
- Peter Newman – Scottish National Party (SNP)
- Eric Nimmons – Independent
- Connie Ramsay – Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Stuart Wilson – Reform UK
Ward 11 – Caol and Mallaig
- Sammy Cameron – Independent
- Isla Maev Campbell – Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Ryan Andrew Forbes – Reform UK
- Allan Henderson – Independent
- Donald Matheson Mackenzie – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
- Michael Robert Perera – Scottish Labour Party
- Matthew Sam Prosser – Independent
- Aaron Taylor – Scottish National Party (SNP)
