Issued on behalf of the Constituency and Regional Returning Officer
As people living in Highland prepare to go to the poll for the Scottish Parliament Election on Thursday 7 May, voters are being reminded to be ready to make sure their votes count.
All polling stations will open at 7am on Thursday 7 May and will remain open until 10pm. There is no need to bring id or your poll letter with you.
Details of the location of all Polling Stations can be found here
The Returning Officer, Derek Brown said: “Our election staff have worked hard to make sure all safety, accessibility and security measures for voters are in place. It is a good idea to check the poll letter that you will have received as your polling place may have changed since the last election.
“If there’s a queue at your polling station, you’ll still be able vote as long as you have joined it before the poll ends at 10pm. Electors may wish to consider avoiding peak times and attending polling stations at quiet periods such as mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
“Our polling station staff are there to provide any assistance. Upon arrival they will give you the two ballot papers and answer any questions you have regarding the process.”
Voters will be given two ballot papers.
For the 3 Highland local constituencies – Caithness, Sutherland and Ross; Inverness and Nairn; Skye, Lochaber, Badenoch, electors will receive a lilac coloured ballot paper to elect their constituency member. Voters should mark one cross (X) in the box opposite the name of one candidate. The candidate with the most votes wins.
As well as returning a Member of the Scottish Parliament in their local constituency, voters will be asked to complete a ballot paper to elect 7 additional members from the Highlands and Islands Regional List. The regional ballot paper is peach coloured. On the regional ballot paper, electors vote for a party or independent candidate to represent the region. Voters should mark one cross (X) in the box opposite the name of one party or independent candidate.
The Electoral Commission has produced a short video that explains everything you need to know about voting in this election.
To support disabled voters, polling stations will feature a wide range of physical adjustments and assistive measures, including disabled parking, ramps, wheelchair-accessible booths position for optimal lighting, and seating for individuals who are unable to stand for long periods.
Voters will also have access to a variety of assistive aids, including pencil grips, large print copies of the ballot paper, large magnifiers, and tactile voting devices featuring raised numbers and braille. Polling places will also introduce a new ballot paper overlay linked to an audio recording. When using the overlay and listening to the audio file, it will allow blind and partially sighted voters to cast their vote independently and in secret.
Voters are also welcome to use their own assistive aids, such as mobile phone apps and video magnifiers, inside the polling booth to cast their vote. Alternatively, a disabled voter may be assisted by a companion such as a close relative aged 16 or older, or another eligible elector. Polling staff are available and will ensure that an elector is given appropriate assistance in order to be able to cast their vote.
For any postal voters who have not yet returned their pack, for their votes to count they must be received before 10pm on Thursday 7 May. Anyone who has requested a postal vote will not be able to vote in person at a polling station. However, anyone who feels they have not left enough time to post back their completed pack, they can hand it in at any Highland polling station on Thursday 7 May between 7am and 10pm.
The counting of both ballot papers will take place at Inverness Leisure on Friday 8 May. The process will start at 9am and will continue until the 3 Highland Constituency results are declared as well as the Highlands and Islands Regional List.
People can follow all stages of the count process via the council’s live broadcast or by following its social media channels @HighlandCouncil #HighlandVotes26 #SP26Results
People wishing to follow the counts are advised to follow The Highland Council’s X account - @HighlandCouncil#SPE2026 where regular updates will be provided from the count venue. News releases providing information on the results as they are declared will also be on the Council’s website