Still time to apply to vote in Highland Council By-election

Issued on behalf of the Returning Officer

Polling will take place on Thursday 12 March to elect one of six candidates standing in the Highland Council's Eilean a' Cheò Ward by-election and voters are being reminded to make sure they are ready to make their vote count.

Anyone eligible to vote can vote in person on the day or apply for either a postal vote or to vote by proxy. The latest time to apply for a postal vote is 5.00pm on Wednesday 26 February 2020 and the deadline for anyone wishing to apply to vote by proxy is Wednesday 4 March 2020.  Advice on postal and proxy voting is available by contacting the Electoral Registration Office on 0800 393783. 

Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday 12 March and the counting of votes will take place in the Ward the following day.

Those intending to vote are reminded that the single transferable vote system will be used. Instead of using a cross, voters should number the candidates in the order of their choice, putting a number 1 in the box next to the name of the candidate who is their first choice, 2 in the box next to their second choice and so on. Voters can mark as many choices as they wish. Voters are asked to put no other mark on the ballot paper as this could result in their vote not being counted.

The six candidates standing for election are:

• Andrew Jonathan Kiss - Scottish National Party (SNP)
• Dawn Kroonstuiver Campbell - Scottish Green Party
• Màrtainn Misneachd  
• Calum Munro - Independent        
• Ruraidh Cameron Stewart - Scottish Conservative and Unionist
• Fay Thomson - Scottish Liberal Democrats

The by-election is being held following the resignation of Ronald MacDonald (Independent) who was one of four Councillors representing Ward 10. The other Ward members are Councillors John Finlayson (Independent), John Gordon (Independent) and Calum MacLeod (Non-aligned).

The current political make-up of the Highland Council is:

•           Independent (26)
•           Non-aligned (1)
•           Scottish Conservative and Unionist (11)
•           Scottish Green Party (1)
•           Scottish Labour Party (3)
•           Scottish Liberal Democrats (9)
•           Scottish National Party (21)
•           Sutherland Independent Group (1)

Vacant (1)