Issued on behalf of the Returning Officer

Polling will take place on Thursday 21 November 2024 to fill the vacant seat for The Highland Council's Fort William and Ardnamurchan ward and voters are being reminded to be ready to make their vote count.

The single transferable vote system will be used. Instead of using a cross, voters 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.

Postal packs have been despatched to those registered electors that had submitted a form by the postal vote deadline.  Further guidance on how to complete your postal pack is available on the Council’s website 

Anyone who has requested a postal vote will not be able to vote in person at a polling station. However, it is possible to hand your complete postal pack into a polling station within the ward between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 21 November 2024, if you are unable to post it in time.

For those opting to vote in person, polling stations will be open on Thursday 21 November from 7am until 10pm. Everyone is reminded to check their poll cards as this will have details of where they need to go to cast their vote.

To avoid the closure of primary schools, electors that would usually vote at Lundrava Primary School are being relocated to the main Highland Council Offices at the Charles Kennedy Building and those electors that would normally vote at St Brides Primary School should go to Nether Lochaber Church Hall.  

There is no requirement to bring any form of voter ID with you when you turn up to cast your vote.

The confirmed candidates standing for election for Ward 21 – Fort William and Ardnamurchan are as follows:

• BAXTER, Andrew Phillip - Scottish Liberal Democrats
• BEHNER-COADY, Marit - Scottish Greens
• CARSTAIRS, Susan - Scottish Labour Party
• FAWCETT, Fiona - Scottish Conservative and Unionist
• LUMB, Nathan - Scottish Libertarian Party
• MACHIN, Rebecca - Scottish National Party (SNP)

The election count will take place in Lochaber High School on Friday 22 November starting at 9.30am. People will be able to follow the count and watch the declaration of the results live via the Council’s social media channels - @highlandcouncil

All information about the by-election, including answers to frequently asked questions and short video clips to show how to vote is available by visiting the Council’s website