Increased interest in postal voting

The number of people in the Highlands seeking to vote by post at the General Election has increased again.

Across the three parliamentary constituencies, 21,908 voters have registered their interest in voting by post, 9,734 more than at the General Election in May  2005, and 16,224 more than in June 2001.

The breakdown of postal vote applications is:

Postal ballot papers should start arriving on doorsteps from Tuesday 27 April and voters are urged to return them as quickly as they can.

If postal voting papers have not arrived by Friday 30 April, voters are asked to contact the election helpline 0845 603 5528.  If a voter loses or accidentally spoils their postal ballot paper, they should call the election helpline as soon as possible. Replacement ballot papers can only be issued from Friday 30 April. 

Those voting by post must sign (or mark) the postal voting statement and provide their date of birth. This is a security measure.   Without signature and date of birth, the statement will not be valid and the vote will not be counted.  The Returning Officer can cross check your signature against other records that he holds. 

The Returning Officer must receive postal votes by 10 pm on Thursday 6 May.  Should they so wish, postal voters can choose to deliver their completed voting papers to any polling stations in the constituency up until this time. Polling at 294 polling stations across the Highlands will take place on Thursday 6 May between 7 am – 10 pm. 

The counts at the three constituencies will begin soon after the polls close and will take place overnight at the Assembly Rooms, Wick;  Dingwall Leisure Centre and Inverness Leisure.

The increase in the number of postal votes to be verified and counted could lengthen the counts but the results are still expected to be declared overnight.