Home   News   Article

One week left to register to vote in person in the upcoming Highland Council elections


By Scott Maclennan

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
Ballot box
Ballot box

There is now only one week left to register to vote in upcoming Highland Council elections, which are set to take place on May 5.

Anyone living in Scotland who will be 16 or over on 5 May can register to vote and for those not already registered, the deadline is midnight on Monday April 18.

However, voters have a range of options – they can vote in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on April 19 and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on April 26.

It takes just five minutes and residents can apply online www.gov.uk/register-to-vote to go to the polls and have their say on who represents them on the council.

Highland residents will vote by ward to elect councillors to represent their local area, and make decisions in areas such as education, social care and housing.

Bill Gillies, Electoral Registration Officer for Highland and Western Isles said: “With only one week to go, time is running out to make sure you can take part in the local elections.

“These elections are an important opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Highland and Western Isles.

“In order to be able to vote, residents must be on the electoral register. So if you’re not registered by midnight on April 18, you won’t be able to take part.”

Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland, said: “You can only take part in the May elections if you are registered to vote, and time is running out. It’s quick and easy – it takes just five minutes online at www.gov.uk/registertovote

“If you have recently turned 16 or moved home, it is particularly important that you make sure you are correctly registered to vote.

“If you were registered to vote in the last election and your details have not changed, you don’t need to take any action. If in doubt, you can check with your electoral registration office by calling 0800 393 783.”

For information on elections in your area, how to register to vote, or how to apply to vote by post or by proxy, visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter

For more Highland Council news click here


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More