New date for Highland Council By-election

The Highland Council has confirmed that a new date has been set for the Ward 12 - Aird and Loch Ness By-Election

The original date of poll was Thursday 5 November but given the current public health advice applying in Scotland, the Returning Officer made the decision to postpone the by-election.

Under normal circumstances a by-election must be held within three months of the vacancy arising, however under the provisions of Section 70 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 the filling of the vacancy can be postponed where it is reasonable and appropriate to do so and a date should be fixed for the poll to be held as soon as it reasonably practicable.

The Returning Officer, Chief Executive of The Highland Council, Donna Manson has confirmed that the new date of poll will be Thursday 11 March 2021.

She said: “I have formally consulted with Scottish Ministers and the Convener of the Electoral Management Board for Scotland on the postponement of the by-election and the fixing of this new revised date. Our election team will be contacting candidates that had previously submitted their papers to advise them of this new date. In February next year the Notice of Poll will be published at which point we will be inviting anyone wishing to put themselves forward as candidates to submit their applications.”

The vacancy has arisen in the Aird and Loch Ness Ward following the death of Councillor George Cruickshank who was one of four Councillors representing Ward 12. The other Ward members are Councillors Helen Carmichael (Independent), Margaret Davidson (Independent) and Emma Knox (Scottish National Party).