Highland Nominations for Scottish Parliament Election 2026

Published: 1 April 2026

Photo of Scottish Parliament building

Issued on behalf of the Constituency and Regional Returning Officer

Twenty candidates are seeking election on Thursday 7 May 2026 in the three Scottish Parliamentary local constituencies for Highland.

Caithness, Sutherland and Ross constituency has attracted 7 candidates; Inverness and Nairn constituency has attracted 7 candidates; Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency has attracted 6 candidates.

Candidates in the three Highland constituencies are as follows:

Caithness, Sutherland and Ross

GREEN, David - Scottish Liberal Democrats
KESTNER, Eva - Scottish Labour Party
MACDONALD, Andrew Ross - Alliance to Liberate Scotland and Sovereignty
MACKENZIE, Donald - Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
SHEPPARD, Matt - Advance UK
TODD, Maree - Scottish National Party (SNP)
WELSH, Steven - Reform UK

Inverness and Nairn 

ALEXANDER, Neil - Scottish Liberal Democrats
CAMPBELL, Fred - Reform UK
EWING, Fergus - Independent
FRASER, Shaun Alexander - Scottish Labour Party
RODDICK, Emma - Scottish National Party (SNP)
SKERRETT, Steve - Advance UK
STEWART, Ruraidh - Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch

BAXTER, Andrew Phillip - Scottish Liberal Democrats
CRAWFORD, Helen - Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
HANSLER, Laura - Alliance to Liberate Scotland
MCCAY, Isla - Scottish Labour Party
MUNRO, Eilidh - Scottish National Party (SNP)
WHITTON, Jon - Reform UK

In the Highlands and Islands regional constituencies a total of 16 Parties and 2 Independent Candidates are seeking election to:

  • Argyll and Bute
  • Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
  • Inverness and Nairn
  • Moray
  • Na h-Eileanan an Iar
  • Orkney
  • Shetland
  • Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch

They are:

ADVANCE UK

ALLIANCE TO LIBERATE SCOTLAND
Alliance to Liberate Scotland For Independence

INDEPENDENCE FOR SCOTLAND PARTY
Independence for Scotland Party, Direct Democracy.

INDEPENDENT GREEN VOICE
Independent Green Voice - Organic, Local, Democratic

REFORM UK

SCOTTISH CHRISTIAN PARTY “PROCLAIMING CHRIST’S LORDSHIP”

SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE AND UNIONIST PARTY

SCOTTISH FAMILY PARTY
Scottish Family Party - Christian values

SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY
Vote Scottish Greens - Let's demand better

SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY
Scottish Labour - Scotland Needs Change

SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

SCOTTISH LIBERTARIAN PARTY

SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP)

SCOTTISH RURAL PARTY

SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY
Scottish Socialist Party - Independent Socialist Scotland

WORKERS PARTY OF BRITAIN
Workers Party - Scotland

MACPHERSON, Duncan
INDEPENDENT

RICE, Mick
INDEPENDENT

Electors in the Highlands heading to the polls on Thursday 7 May are being reminded of the procedure to follow in completing their two ballot papers.

Highland Local Constituencies

For the 3 Highland Constituencies of Caithness, Sutherland and Ross; Inverness and Nairn; Skye, Lochaber, Badenoch voters will receive a lilac-coloured ballot paper. On this ballot paper you vote for a candidate to represent your constituency. To vote, mark a cross (X) in the box opposite the name of one candidate.

Highlands and Islands Regional List

As well as returning a Member of the Scottish Parliament in their constituency, voters will be asked to complete a peach-coloured ballot paper. On this ballot paper you vote for a party or independent candidate to represent your region. To vote, mark a cross (X) in the box opposite the name of one party or independent candidate.

 Are you ready to vote?

To take part you will need to ensure that you are registered to vote by the deadline of Monday 20 April 2026. The quickest and easiest way to register is online or you can phone the Electoral Registration Office on 0800 393 783 to request a paper form.

You will receive a poll letter to tell you where to go to cast your vote on Thursday 7 May. If you've received a poll letter for the Scottish Parliament Election 2026 you don't need to register to vote again unless your circumstances have changed.

There is still time to apply to vote by post or to apply for a proxy, which is to appoint someone to vote on your behalf. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April. The deadline to apply for a proxy is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026.

For further information please contact the Electoral Registration Office on 0800 393 783 or email 

The Electoral Commission has produced a voting guide for the Scottish Parliament Election and issued it to every household. You can view this document in a variety of accessible formats from their website.