Make Your Mind Up Time Coming As Scottish Parliament Election called in Highland

16th March 2026

The Notice of Election for the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election has been published today (Monday 16 March 2026).

The election will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026 with polling taking place in three Highland constituencies.

The Highland constituencies are:

Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.
Inverness and Nairn.
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.

Nomination forms are available on The Highland Council's website highland.gov.uk/spe2026 for candidates seeking election to the Scottish Parliament.

Prospective constituency candidates have until 4pm on Wednesday 1 April 2026 to submit their nomination forms.

As well as returning a Highland constituency Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), electors will also be asked to elect seven additional Members from the Highlands and Islands Regional List.

The Highland and Islands Regional constituencies are:

Argyll and Bute
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
Inverness and Nairn
Moray
Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Orkney
Shetland
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch

Regional nomination forms are available for individual candidates or party list candidates seeking election to the Scottish Parliament on the Council's website highland.gov.uk/spe2026. The deadline for nominations to be submitted is also 4pm on Wednesday 1 April 2026.

The public are reminded that to take part they will need to ensure that they are registered to vote by the deadline of Monday 20 April 2026. The quickest and easiest way to register is online at gov.uk/register-to-vote or phone the Electoral Registration Office on 0800 393 783 to request a paper form.

Voters will be able to opt to vote in person at a polling station, apply for a proxy vote so someone can vote on their behalf or vote by post.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm, Tuesday 21 April 2026. Application forms and full information can be downloaded from saa.gov.uk/h-wi-vjb. If you are unable to print the form, you can request application forms to be sent to you or your household. The Electoral Registration Office can arrange for an application form to be sent to you in the post.

For further information about the Scottish Parliament election visit highland.gov.uk/spe2026

The electoral system for the Scottish Parliament election
Members of the Scottish Parliament are elected under the Additional Member System (AMS). Under this electoral system, voters are given two ballot papers: one for the constituency election and one for the regional election.

On the constituency ballot paper, voters are asked to put an X next to the candidate of their choice.

On the regional ballot paper, voters are asked to put an X next to the party or individual candidate of their choice.

There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) - 73 constituency MSPs and 56 regional MSPs, with 7 regional MSPs elected to represent each of the 8 electoral regions.
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/
________________________________________________________________________________

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Today : Local Authority

 
Highland Council launches new platform to improve online engagement

The Highland Council has today (Monday 22 June) launched a new online engagement platform which will transform how residents, communities and visitors engage with consultations.   The easy-to-use platform allows anyone to quickly see what projects and proposals are open for consultation and engagement.  

Today : Local Authority

A Tale of Two Schools - Is Thurso Next? As Moray Council Shelves £100million school plan for Buckie

When Moray Council officially shelved plans for a new Buckie High School, it sent a shockwave through communities across the north of Scotland.  The message was clear: in the current economic climate, even the most desperate promises of new school builds can vanish overnight when balanced against a massive budget deficit.  

19/6/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland creatives help shape UK City of Culture 2029 bid

Cultural artists and creators from across the Highlands have gathered at Strathpeffer Pavilion to share their ideas and ambitions for the Inverness-Highland bid for UK City of Culture 2029.   The bid, which is being taken forward under the name Beò 2029 the Gaelic word for living brought together around 80 creative practitioners from across the region for a cultural conversation exploring what culture means in the Highlands, what stories the region wants to tell, and the legacy for the future.  

18/6/2026 : Local Authority

 
Great Glen Way route improvements now open

A new improved section of the Great Glen Way is now open, offering walkers, wheelers and visitors a safer and more scenic way to experience this popular trail.   The Highland Council has completed work on over 3km of the route, moving it away from the public road and onto a new off‑road path.  

14/6/2026 : Local Authority

How Caithness Can Strengthen Its Case for Major Capital Investment in an Era of Shrinking Budgets

Caithness has reached a moment where the old assumptions about public investment no longer hold.  For decades, the region could rely on a three‑pillar system: HIE to drive economic development, Scottish Enterprise and national programmes to support growth, and Highland Council to deliver the infrastructure that underpins daily life.  

14/6/2026 : Advisory / Counseling Services

When the Money Moves South: How HIE’s Shrinking Budget Has Hit Caithness and Why “Record Funding” Doesn’t Mean What It Used To

For decades, Highlands and Islands Enterprise was the economic backbone of the far north.  It wasn’t perfect, but it was one of the few institutions that understood the basic truth of life in Caithness: distance costs money, and if the state doesn’t step in, the market won’t.  

11/6/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Council's £20 Million Transformation Gamble – What Happens if the Savings Never Arrive?

For most people, council committee papers and audit reports are not the sort of documents that attract much attention.  They are full of technical language, financial terminology and governance structures that can make even the most determined reader give up after a few pages.  

8/6/2026 : Local Authority

Hop on Board: £2 Bus Fares Make Exploring the Highlands Easier Than Ever

£2 Bus Fare Scheme Drives Accessible and Sustainable Travel Across the Highlands With the school holidays approaching, The Highland Council is encouraging residents and visitors to make the most of the £2 single fare cap on its in-house bus services.   The initiative is helping to make public transport more accessible and affordable, particularly for families looking for low-cost ways to travel during the summer months.  

7/6/2026 : Local Authority

Apprenticeship pathways to build a future Highland workforce

Highland Council's education committee members have praised the apprenticeship programmes offering more young people the chance to learn skills and equip them for the world of work.   Foundation Apprenticeships (FAs) and Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) in Highland are growing strongly, with participation now well above national averages.  

6/6/2026 : Local Authority

The slow unravelling of a promise: why the £100 million Thurso schools project may already be drifting into delay

The announcement of a six‑week consultation on the future of Thurso High School should have been a moment of clarity — a sign that after years of discussion, Highland Council was finally ready to move from aspiration to action.  Instead, it has exposed a deeper truth about the state of capital investment in the Highlands - The numbers no longer add up.