Notice of Election published for two Highland Council by-elections.

Issued on behalf of the Returning Officer

Following resignations, vacancies have arisen for Councillors to represent the Cromarty Firth Ward 6 and Eilean a' Cheò Ward 10 of The Highland Council.

The Cromarty Firth Ward is a 4 member Ward. Following the resignation of Maxine Smith there is one vacancy to be filled. The remaining members are Councillors Sinclair Coghill, Tamala Collier and John Edmondson.

Ward 10, Eilean a' Cheò is also a 4-member ward. Following the resignation of Calum Munro there is one vacancy to be filled. The remaining members are Councillors John Finlayson, Drew Miller, and Ruraidh Stewart.

Candidate nomination forms for both wards can be downloaded from the website  or by contacting the Election Office via email election@highland.gov.uk or phoning 01349 886657.

Completed nomination papers for both wards must either be returned by hand between the hours of 10am and 4pm from Wednesday 7 May 2025 until Friday 16 May 2025 to the Returning Officer, Meeting Room 1, The Highland Council, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX, or in the wards locally to: -

• Ward 6 (Cromarty Firth) Depute Returning Officer, Registration Room, Alness Service Point, Averon Centre, High Street, Alness, IV17 0QB
• Ward 10 (Eilean a' Cheò) Depute Returning Officer, Portree Service Point, Park Road, Portree, Isle of Skye, IV51 9EP.

Prior to lodging papers candidates and agents should email  election@highland.gov.uk  or contact 07496 176004 or 07775 411321 to arrange an appointment.

Before the original documents are officially lodged by hand, candidates can scan and email their forms to  election@highland.gov.uk  for an informal check.

If the seats are contested, the polls will take place on Thursday 19 June 2025 with an electronic count taking place on Friday 20 June 2025.

Anyone over 16 years old who lives in Wards 6 or 10 is eligible to vote in these By-Elections if they are registered. To register to vote visit this website.  Alternatively, call the Electoral Registration Office on 0800 393783 to request a paper application form.  The last date to register to vote in this By-Election is midnight on Tuesday 3 June 2025.

Voters in both Wards 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.

The latest time to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Wednesday 4 June 2025 and the deadline for anyone wishing to appoint a proxy, which is someone to vote on their behalf, is 5pm on Wednesday 11 June 2025

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