Scottish Parliamentary Elections called in Highland

Issued on behalf of the Returning Officer, Highland.

Nominations forms are now available for those people seeking election to the Scottish Parliament. Prospective candidates have until 4pm on Friday 1 April 2016 to return their forms.

The election will take place on Thursday 5 May 2016, polling will take place between 7am and 10pm at 283 polling stations in the three Highland constituencies. Ballot papers will be taken to the Highland Football Academy, Victoria Park, Dingwall, where the votes will be verified and counted overnight.

As well as returning a local constituency Member of the Scottish Parliament in 3 Highland constituencies, electors will be asked to elect 7 additional Members from the Highlands and Islands Regional List to the Scottish Parliament.

The local constituencies are:
• Caithness, Sutherland and Ross,
• Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch,
• Inverness and Nairn.

The local constituency MSPs are elected under the 'first past the post' voting system which means the candidate with the most votes is elected to serve as an MSP in your local constituency area.

The Highland and Islands regional constituencies are:
• Caithness, Sutherland and Ross,
• Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch,
• Inverness and Nairn,
• Shetland,
• Orkney,
• Moray,
• Argyll and Bute,
• Na h-Eileanan an Iar.

Regional MSPs are elected using the 'party list system' which means people vote for their preferred party or individual candidate.

For further information about the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary election visit Highland Council’s website www.highland.gov.uk/SP16