Local Government Elections
Local Government By-election
The Highland Council is divided into 21 Wards and elections are administered, centrally, through the Election Office.
A by-election can occur due to a vacancy, for example death or resignation of an elected representative. It can take place during any of the ordinary local government electoral cycles, and is subject to the same statutory timetable.
Results for the Election of Councillors for Ward 6 - Cromarty Firth and Ward 10 - Eilean a' Cheò
Voting was by the single transferable voting system and an electronic count was held on Friday 20 June 2025 for both wards. The results are now available below:
The Candidates were as follows: -
Ward 6 - Cromarty Firth (to fill 1 vacancy)
- CHISHOLM, Steve - Alba Party for independence
- COSTIGANE, Ross - Scottish Liberal Democrats
- CROSS, Richard James - Independent
- FORBES, Ryan - Scottish Conservative and Unionist
- MACDONALD, Allan - Reform UK
- MACDONALD, Odette - Scottish National Party (SNP)
- PERERA, Michael Robert - Scottish Labour Party
- RATTRAY, Martin - Independent
- THOMAS, Anne - Scottish Greens
After application of the Election Rules, Richard James Cross is elected as a Councillor for the above ward. The turnout was 24.7%, there were 2,385 valid ballot papers and 25 rejected ballot papers.
Detailed Results
- Declaration of Results
- Candidate votes per Stage
- First Preference Report
- Preference by Ballot Box
- Preference Summary Report
- Transfer Report
- Preference Profile
- Understanding Voting Preferences
Ward 10 - Eilean a' Cheò (to fill 1 vacancy)
- COUPLAND, John - Reform UK
- DICKSON, Campbell - Independent
- GILLIES, Christine - Independent
- LAWRENCE, Katy - Scottish Greens
- MAC A' BHÀILLIDH, Màrtainn - Scottish National Party (SNP)
- MACDONALD, Jonathan - Independent
- MACPHERSON, George - Scottish Conservative and Unionist
- THOMSON, Fay - Scottish Liberal Democrats
After application of the Election Rules, Christine Gillies is elected as a Councillor for the above ward. The turnout was 40.1%, there were 3,504 valid ballot papers and 19 rejected ballot papers.
Detailed Results
- Declaration of Results
- Candidate votes per Stage
- First Preference Report
- Preference by Ballot Box
- Preference Summary Report
- Transfer Report
- Preference Profile
- Understanding Voting Preferences
You can watch the live broadcast below:
Candidate Spending Returns and Declarations
Notices are hereby given below on the inspection of the returns of election spending, declarations and accompanying documents of Candidates at Highland Council By-Elections that have been previously held.
- Ward 21 - Fort William and Ardnamurchan - Thursday 21 November 2024
- Ward 6 - Cromarty Firth and Ward 14 - Inverness Central - Thursday 26 September 2024
- Ward 7 - Tain and Easter Ross - Thursday 13 June 2024
- Ward 19 - Inverness South - Thursday 11 April 2024
- Ward 7 - Tain and Easter Ross - Thursday 28 September 2023
Returns are made available to view for a period of two years from an election. At the end of the two-year period, if the candidate or the relevant election agent requests them, they must be returned to the candidate. Otherwise, the returns and accompanying documents may be destroyed.
Results for previous by-elections are available here.