Delivery of writs marks start to three General Election contests in the Highlands

The UK Parliamentary General Election in the Highlands began today (Tuesday) when Returning Officer Alistair Dodds received the writs to run elections in the three Highland parliamentary constituencies.

At the same time, the notices of election seeking nominations from candidates were  published on the Council’s web site and displayed  at Council offices. The deadline for nominations is 4 pm on Tuesday 20 April.

Mr Dodds, Chief Executive of The Highland Council, is the Returning Officer for the following three parliamentary constituencies:-

• Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (8,752 sq km) -  47,263 electors;
• Ross, Skye and Lochaber (12,779 sq km.) -   51,934 electors;
• Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (4,953 sq km.) – 72,390 electors.

Polling cards will be posted to the 171,587 electors from tomorrow (Wednesday 14 April). 

The last date for receipt of applications to be included on the register of electors for this election is Tuesday 20 April.  Anyone who is uncertain as to whether or not they are registered can check via freefone 0800 393 783.

Applications to vote by post for this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5.00pm on Tuesday 20 April 2010.

On Thursday 6 May, 2010, polling will take place between 7 am – 10 pm at a total of 294 polling stations in the three constituencies: 

• Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross –76 polling stations; 
• Ross, Skye and Lochaber –115 polling stations;
• Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey;   103 polling stations.

The counts will take place overnight 6/7 May – starting as soon after 10 pm as possible on 6 May - at the Assembly Rooms, Wick,  Dingwall Leisure Centre; and Inverness Leisure, Bught, Inverness.