Postal Packs issued for Ward 7 By-Election

Issued on behalf of the Returning Officer

A total of 1,604 postal vote packs for the Tain and Easter Ross by-election have been posted out and the Highland Council is advising postal voters to read the instructions carefully when completing their statement and ballot paper to ensure their vote counts.

The postal packs contain:

• Envelope A / Postal Voting Statement
• Ballot paper
• Return envelope (Envelope B)
• A guide to completing your postal vote

There is advice and a short video clip explaining how to correctly complete and return your postal ballot below, on the Council’s website and on YouTube 

Anyone who has requested a postal vote will not be able to vote in person at a polling station. However, it is possible to return your postal pack by hand into a polling station within the ward between the hours of 7am and 10pm on Thursday 28 September 2023 if you are unable to post it in time.  The list of polling stations can be viewed on the councils website

If you haven’t received your postal pack on or after Friday 22 September 2023, please telephone 01349 886657 for a replacement pack.

Those voters who will be casting their votes in person at a polling station should have received a poll card that details which polling station they should go to.

The Highland Council is asking everyone to check their poll card carefully as in order not to disrupt the education of pupils the Council will not be using school premises as polling stations but instead will be using local community halls.

This means that the Primary School in Fearn will not be a polling station. Voters who previously used this location will need to vote at the Seaboard Memorial Hall. A dial-a-bus service will be available on Thursday 28 September 2023 for voters living in the Fearn area who would previously have voted at the Primary School and will now be going to Balintore Seaboard Memorial Hall to cast their vote.  The dial-a-bus service can be contacted via 01862 892166 during the hours of operation from 9am to 5.30pm.

The seven candidates standing are:

• ALLISON, Gordon - Scottish National Party (SNP)
• BARNETT, Andrew - Scottish Green Party
• CHRISTIAN, Harry - Scottish Libertarian Party
• MORRISON, Veronica - Scottish Conservative and Unionist
• PERERA, Michael - Scottish Labour Party
• ROSS, Maureen - Independent
• STEPHEN, Charles - Scottish Liberal Democrats