Local Government Elections
How to Vote
Voting at the designated polling stations will take place between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 21 November 2024.
The Councillor is elected through the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system which allows voters to express a preference for more than one candidate.
Please visit below further information about the Single Transferable Vote system
Be prepared
To vote, eligible residents must have been registered to vote by midnight on Tuesday 5 November 2024.
Poll cards were posted out to those that are registered to vote in the ward and these should be checked carefully as details of where voters should go to cast their vote in person will be provided.
Further information on What Voters Need to Know for Polling Day
If you are unsure whether you are registered to vote, contact the electoral registration office.
Postal or proxy vote
Instead of voting by person at a polling station, anyone who is registered to vote can arrange to have a Postal or Proxy vote.
To ensure you don't miss out on your preferred way of making your vote count, check the list of deadlines below.
Deadlines
- for new postal vote applications and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes - Wednesday 6 November 2024 (5pm)
- for new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy or emergency proxies) - Wednesday 13 November 2024 (5pm)
- for emergency proxy applications - Thursday 21 November 2024 (5pm)
- Last time to alter the Register due to clerical error or court appeal - Thursday 21 November 2024 (9pm)
- Last time for re-issue of spoilt or lost postal votes - Thursday 21 November 2024 (10pm)
For more information about how to register and the different ways of voting in elections please go to our How to Vote page or email ero@highland.gov.uk or telephone 0800 393 783 for more advice.
Postal Packs are being posted on Friday 8 November 2024.
Completing your postal vote pack
Please watch the video below to asist you with completing your postal pack which needs to be returned by post on Thursday 21 November 2024 or hand delivered to a polling station within the ward by 10pm.
Ward 21 Fort William and Ardnamurchan By-Election - Guide on how to complete your postal vote pack
You can find further information to assist you with completing your postal vote in our Frequently Asked Questions
How to complete your Ballot Paper
For this election you vote using numbers. Your ballot paper will list all the candidates standing to elect 1 councillor for this 4-member ward. You will be asked to number the candidates in order of your choices using 1,2, 3 and so on. This means you should rank the candidates in order of your preference on the ballot paper. Electors are advised to vote using numbers as follows:
Number the candidates in the order of your choice.
- Put the number 1 in the box next to the name of the candidate who is your first choice;
- 2 in the box next to your second choice;
- 3 in the box next to your third choice; and so on.
You can make as many or as few choices as you wish.
You can listen to the audio version of the ballot paper here or have the option to telephone 01349 886657 and press option 3.
Counting of Votes
Electronic Counting of votes will take place on Friday 22 November 2024 (9.30am) at Lochaber High School and only those permitted by law will be allowed to attend.
The count will be live streamed and can be viewed on The Highland Council YouTube channel, and our Twitter / X and Facebook channels
Results will be published thereafter.