Accessible voting
Accessible voting ensures that everyone can participate in the democratic process, with support, equipment and assistance available to help voters cast their vote independently and confidently.
Further information on accessible voting
At the Highland Council Ward 3, Wick and East Caithness by-election on Thursday 1 October 2026, polling places will have a range of equipment and support options available to support blind and visually impaired voters who wish to vote in person.
Spoken ballot papers are available to support you if you wish to use either of the two tactile voting aids which will be available in the polling place. One is a new cardboard ballot paper overlay which fits exactly over the ballot paper. The older plastic tactile voting device is available as an alternative. This must be fitted in place by polling staff.
If the audio ballot paper does not work for you, please call the election team on 01349 886657, during office hours and they will read out the ballot paper to you.
Transcript of audio file
You will shortly hear the names of the candidates standing for election to represent the Wick and East Caithness Ward of the Highland Council in the by-election on Thursday 1 October 2026.
One candidate will be elected. You can make as many or as few choices as you wish. Candidates are listed alphabetically by surname on the ballot paper and will be read out now, surname first, in the order that they appear. We also say which numbered voting box the candidate’s name is next to so that you can find it independently if you are using a tactile voting aid with braille and embossed numbers and cut-out over each voting box.
Put the number 1 in the voting box next to your first choice. Put the number 2 in the voting box next to your second choice. Put the number three in the voting box next to your third choice. And so on.
There are five candidates listed on this ballot paper.
The candidate next to box one on the ballot paper is BUCHANAN, Dave, INDEPENDENT.
At box two is CALDER, Julie, SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS.
At box three is GIBSON, Charlotte, SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE AND UNIONIST.
At box four is GLEN, John, SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP).
At box five is RICHMOND, Iain, REFORM UK.
This is the end of the ballot paper.