Notice of Election published for two Highland Council by-elections
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE RETURNING OFFICER
Two vacancies have arisen for the election of Councillors to represent The Highland Council.
Following the resignation of Derek Louden a vacancy has arisen for the election of a Councillor to represent the Ward 7, Tain and Easter Ross. Ward 7 is a 3-member Ward. The other Ward members are Councillors Laura Dundas and Maureen Ross.
Ward 11 Caol and Mallaig is also a 3-member ward. Following the resignation of Andrew Baldrey there is one vacancy to be filled. The remaining members are Councillors John Grafton and Liz Saggers.
Candidate nomination forms for both by-elections can be downloaded from https://www.highland.gov.uk/byelection or by contacting the Election Office via email election@highland.gov.uk or phoning 01349 886657.
The Returning Officer, Derek Brown said: “This is an opportunity for two new Councillors to be elected. One to represent the Tain and Easter Ross Ward and the other the Caol and Mallaig Ward, so I encourage anyone interested in joining The Highland Council to put themselves forward.”
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 Monday 25 August 2025 at the following Highland Council locations:
- Highland Council Headquarters, Meeting Room 1, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX
- Tain Service Point and Registration Office, 24 High Street, Tain, IV19 1AE
- 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 seats are contested, voting will take place on Thursday 25 September 2025 with the electronic count taking place on Friday 26 September 2025.
Anyone over 16 years old who is living in Wards 7 and 11 are eligible to vote in these two by-elections 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 Tuesday 9 September 2025.
Voters in Wards 7 and 11 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.
Voters in Ward 7 are asked to check their poll card carefully as Fearn Primary School and Nigg Village Hall will not be used as polling places for this by-election. Instead, in-person voters for both these polling districts will vote at the Balintore Seaboard Memorial Hall. Alternatively, voters can opt to apply for a postal vote for this by-election.
A dial-a-bus service will be in place on Thursday 25 September to take any voters in the Nigg and Fearn area to the Balintore Seaboard Memorial Hall to vote in person. Anyone wishing to use this service must book before 18:30 on Wednesday 24 September 2025 by calling 01862 892166. The dial-a-bus service will be operating on Thursday 25 September 2025 between the hours 09:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 14:30.
The latest time to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Wednesday 10 September and the deadline for anyone wishing to appoint a proxy, which is someone to vote on their behalf, is 5pm on Wednesday 17 September 2025.
Advice on postal and proxy voting is available by contacting the Electoral Registration Office on 0800 393783.