Notice of Election published for The Highland Council By-Election

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE RETURNING OFFICER

Following the resignation of Colin Aitken (Scottish Liberal Democrats), a vacancy has arisen for the election of a Councillor to represent the Inverness South Ward of The Highland Council.

Ward 19 is a 4-member Ward. The other Ward members are Councillors Ken Gowans (Scottish National Party), Duncan Macpherson (Highland Alliance) and Andrew Sinclair (Scottish Conservative and Unionist).

Candidate nomination forms can be downloaded here or by contacting the Election Office via email election@highland.gov.uk or phoning 01349 886657.

The Returning Officer, Derek Brown said: “This is an opportunity to join The Highland Council to represent the Inverness South Ward so I encourage anyone interested to put themselves forward.”

Completed nomination papers must be returned by hand to the Returning Officer, The Highland Council, Meeting Room 1, The Highland Council, Election Office, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX by prior appointment between the hours of 10am and 4pm on any working day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) after the date of this notice and before 4pm on Thursday 7 March 2024.

Before the original documents are officially lodged by hand, candidates are encouraged to scan and email their forms to election@highland.gov.uk for an informal check.

If the seat is contested, voting will take place on Thursday 11 April 2024 with the electronic count taking place on Friday 12 April 2024 in Inverness.

Anyone over 16 years old who is living in the Ward is eligible to vote in this by-election if they are registered. To register to vote visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Alternatively, call the Electoral Registration Officer on 0800 393783 to request a paper application form.  The last date to register to vote in this by-election is midnight on Friday 22 March 2024.

Voters in Ward 19 will be able to cast their vote in person on the day by visiting their local polling station or they can apply for either a postal vote or to vote by proxy.

The latest time to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Monday 25 March 2024 and the deadline for anyone wishing to appoint a proxy, which is someone to vote on their behalf, is 5pm on Wednesday 3 April 2024.

Advice on postal and proxy voting is available by contacting the Electoral Registration Office on 0800 393783.

The current political make-up of The Highland Council is as follows:

Highland Alliance (5)
Highland Independent (19)
Scottish Conservative and Unionist (8)
Scottish Green Party (4)
Scottish Labour Party (2)
Scottish Liberal Democrats (14)
Scottish National Party (21)
Vacant (1)