Deadlines for Council Elections

29th March 2012

Nominations Closed Thursday 29th March.

5 pm Wednesday 18 April: Deadline for receipt of new requests to vote by post or postal proxy, or to change or cancel an existing postal or proxy vote arrangement

5 pm Wednesday 25 April: Deadline for new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy) except for medical emergencies.

7 am - 10 pm Thursday 3 May: Voting takes place at 271 polling stations

Friday 4 May: Count takes place at Inverness Leisure, Bught, Inverness

Returning Officer: Alistair Dodds, Chief Executive of The Highland Council.

Electorate: As at today's date, 175,979.

Voting system: The system being used is the Single Transferable Vote. The ballot paper lists the name of each candidate and voters are asked to rank candidates in order of preference, putting a 1 beside their first choice candidate, 2 beside their second choice, 3 beside their third choice and so on. Voters can rank as many or as few candidates as they like.

Number of Staff Involved: At 19 of the busier polling stations (more than 1,000 electors in the ward), additional poll clerks will complement the role of the Presiding Officer and Polling Clerk by offering advice and clarification of the voting system to voters. This will bring the total number of staff involved at polling stations to 561. There will be a further 60 staff involved in the count at Inverness Leisure.

Postal Voting: We are expecting a significant increase in the number of people voting by post. The current total is 27,000.

Helpline: To assist the public in the run up to the elections, the Returning Officer has set up an Election Helpline. The number is 01349 886657.

Registration: . You can check that you are registered as an elector or get advice by telephoning Freefone 0800 393 783

Web Information: Information on the election is prominently featured on the home page of the Council's web site: www.highland.gov.uk.