Cromarty Firth ward hopefuls prepare for Highland public verdict
VOTERS in Highland Council’s Cromarty Firth ward are being urged to state their preference from nine candidates vying to represent them later this week.
The opening emerged following the resignation of veteran councillor Maxine Smith back in March.
Polling will take place on Thursday (June 19) and voters are being reminded to make sure they are ready to cast their vote.
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The single transferable vote system will be used.
Instead of using a cross, voters should number the candidates in the order of their choice, putting a number 1 in the box next to the name of the candidate who is their first choice, 2 in the box next to their second choice and so on.
Voters can make as many or as few choices as they wish.
The council has created a short video that explains the process.
What to do
Postal packs have been despatched to those registered electors that submitted a form by the postal vote deadline.
Anyone who has requested a postal vote will not be able to vote in person at a polling station.
If you are unable to post it in time, it is possible to hand in your completed postal pack into any of the polling stations located within the ward between 7am and 10pm on Thursday. There are no restrictions on the number of postal votes that can be handed in to a polling station.
A list of polling station locations can be found on the council’s website.
For those opting to vote in person, polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm.
Voters are reminded to check their poll cards as this will have details of where they need to go to cast their vote. There is no requirement to bring any form of voter ID or poll cards.
The candidates standing for election to Ward 6 – Cromarty Firth are:
CHISHOLM, Steve - Alba Party for independence
COSTIGANE, Ross - Scottish Liberal Democrats
CROSS, Richard James - Independent
FORBES, Ryan - Scottish Conservative and Unionist
MACDONALD, Allan - Reform UK
MACDONALD, Odette - Scottish National Party (SNP)
PERERA, Michael Robert - Scottish Labour Party
RATTRAY, Martin - Independent
THOMAS, Anne - Scottish Greens
The electronic election count will take place on Friday, June 20 at Kyleakin Village Hall starting at 11am. This is also where a count for the Eilean a' Cheò ward by-election will take place.
People will be able to follow the count and watch the declaration of the results live via the Council’s social media channels - @highlandcouncil https://www.youtube.com/live/pr1EVKwKudw
To support equal access for everyone and to assist with voting, a range of accessibility aids is provided, which also includes a new overlay. The overlay combined with the audio recording of the ballot paper, is intended to provide a complete self-service solution to the blind and partially sighted voters to vote independently and in secret.
All information about the by-election, including answers to frequently asked questions and short video clips to show how to vote is available by visiting the council’s website www.highland.gov.uk/byelection
The Cromarty Firth ward is currently represented by Sinclair Coghill (Highland Alliance); Tamala Collier (SNP) and John Edmondson (Scottish Liberal Democrats).
The ward includes the communities of Alness, Evanton and Invergordon. It elects four councillors.
