Election/referendum registration reminder

6th April 2011

With both the Scottish Parliament election and the national referendum on the UK Parliament's voting system taking place on Thursday 5 May, electors in the three Highland constituencies are being urged to ensure they are registered to vote before the deadline for receipt of applications of Friday 15 April.

Voters are also reminded that the deadline for seeking a postal vote is 5 pm on Thursday 14 April. Already 25,500 people have applied for a postal vote across the three new Highland constituencies, which are:-

Caithness, Sutherland and Ross - 56,274 electors

Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch - 58,048 electors

Inverness and Nairn - 63,292 electors
The first batch of postal votes is scheduled to be posted out to electors on Monday 18 April.

Douglas Gillespie, Electoral Registration Officer for the Highlands and Western Isles, said: "Registering to vote is quick and easy. However, if you are not registered by Friday 15 April, you will miss out on the chance to have your say in the Scottish Parliament election and the referendum on the voting system used for elections to the UK Parliament."

Anyone with a registration query should contact the freephone - 0800 393 783.


As well as returning a Member of the Scottish Parliament in their constituency, electors will be asked to complete a ballot paper to elect 7 Additional Members from the Highlands and Islands Regional List to the Scottish Parliament.



Voters will receive a lilac ballot paper to elect their constituency member and a peach ballot paper to elect the 7 Additional Members. On the constituency ballot paper, electors mark one cross (X) in the box opposite the name of one candidate. On the regional ballot paper, electors vote for a party or individual candidate to represent the region. Voters should mark a cross (X) once in the box opposite the name of one party or individual candidate.

The referendum question being put to voters on Thursday 5 May is: "At present, the UK uses the "first past the post" system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the "alternative vote" system be used instead?"

Voters place a cross on the light grey ballot paper beside either "yes" or "no".

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission will be sending a booklet to every household in the UK with information about how to have your say on Thursday 5 May.

An Elections Helpline - 01349 886657 - has been established to assist voters with any queries they may have in the run up to the elections on Thursday 5 May.

Extensive information about the elections is posted on The Highland Council's web site: www.highland.gov.uk