Five candidates contest Tain and Easter Ross Ward by-election

Five candidates will contest the forthcoming by-election to elect one councillor to serve The Highland Council’s Ward 8 – Tain and Easter Ross.

The candidates are:

The by-election is being held on Thursday 9 June following the death of Councillor Alan Torrance (Scottish National Party) – one of three councillors representing Tain and Easter Ross. The other two representatives are Alasdair Rhind and Richard Durham, both Independent.

Midnight on Tuesday 24 May is the latest time for registering to vote at the by-election. Postal votes will be issued from Thursday 26 May.

Polling will take place between 7 am and 10 pm on 9 June at the following  polling stations: Duthac Centre, Tain (3 stations); Inver Village Hall; Carnegie Hall,  Portmahomack;  Hill of Fearn Village Hall;  Mercat Centre,  Munro Crescent, Milton;  Nigg Village Hall and Seaboard Memorial Hall, Balintore

The count will take place at the Duthac Centre, Tain, on Friday 10 June.

The electorate is 6,959.

Those intending to vote are reminded that the single transferable vote system is being used.  Instead of using a cross, they should number the candidates in the order of their choice, putting a number 1 in the box next to the name of the candidate who is their first choice, 2 in the box next to their second choice and so on.  Voters can mark as many choices as they wish.  Voters are asked to put no other mark on the ballot paper as this could result in their vote not being counted.

The current political representation of the Council is: Independent Group (24), Liberal Democrats (20), SNP (17), Labour (7), Independent Members' Group (6) Independent Alliance Group (4) Non-aligned (1) and Vacant (1).