Notice of Election published for Highland Council By-election

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE RETURNING OFFICER

A vacancy has arisen for the election of a Councillor to represent Ward 21 Fort William and Ardnamurchan following the resignation of Sarah Fanet.

Ward 21 is a 4-member ward. The other members are Councillors Andrew Baxter, Thomas MacLennan and Kate Willis.

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

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

Completed nomination papers must be delivered by hand to the Depute Returning Officer by prior appointment between the hours of 10am and 4pm on any working day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) before 4pm on Friday 7 November 2025 at the following Highland Council locations:

• Highland Council Headquarters, Meeting Room (1/2), Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX
• Charles Kennedy Building, Meeting Room (G16/18), Achintore Road, Fort William, PH33 6RQ

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 December 2025 with the electronic count taking place on Friday 12 December 2025.

Anyone over 16 years old who is living in Ward 21 will be 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 Office on 0800 393783 to request a paper application form.  The last date to register to vote is midnight on Monday 24 November.

Voters in the Fort William and Ardnamurchan Ward 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. As this is a winter by-election, some voters may find it more convenient to use a postal vote rather than travelling to a polling station.

The latest time to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 25 November and the deadline for anyone wishing to appoint a proxy, which is someone to vote on their behalf, is 5pm on Wednesday 3 December 2025.

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