The formal process for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election has begun after the official Notice of Election was published on Monday 16th of March.
Voters across the Highlands and Moray will head to the polls on Thursday 7th of May to elect constituency MSPs as well as representatives for the Highlands and Islands regional list.
In the Highland Council area polling will take place across three constituencies which are Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Inverness and Nairn, and Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
Alongside constituency votes, electors will also choose seven additional MSPs through the Highlands and Islands regional list system.
The regional area covers Argyll and Bute, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Inverness and Nairn, Moray, Na h Eileanan an Iar, Orkney, Shetland and Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
Candidate nominations for the election open on Tuesday 17th of March.
Prospective candidates seeking election must submit their nomination papers by 4pm on Wednesday 1st of April.
The publication of the notice formally begins the election timetable which will run through the coming weeks as political parties and independent candidates prepare their campaigns.
Across Moray, voters will also elect a constituency MSP alongside their regional representatives for the Highlands and Islands.
Polling day in Moray will see 71 polling places open across the region from 7am until 10pm.
Voters are being reminded that they must be registered to vote by Monday 20th of April in order to take part in the election.
The quickest way to register is online, although paper forms can also be requested through the Electoral Registration Office.
Postal voting is also available for those who wish to vote before polling day.
The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 21st of April, while voters who cannot attend a polling station on the day can appoint a proxy voter to cast their vote on their behalf.
Existing postal voters are expected to receive their ballot packs between the 15th and 17th of April, with a further issue for newly approved postal voters around the 22nd of April.
Polling cards will be sent to registered voters in batches beginning around the 17th and 18th of March.
Voters are not required to bring their polling card or identification to vote, although having a polling card can help staff locate voter details more quickly at polling stations.
Election results for the Moray constituency will be published from the 8th of May once counting has been completed.
Results for the Highlands and Islands regional vote will be published through Highland Council channels once the regional count has concluded.
Local authorities say further updates will be shared online throughout the election period as the campaign progresses.
