The last few doors have been knocked, the final leaflets have been posted through letterboxes … now it’s up to the voters of Leith Walk:
Leith Walk constituents will go to the polls to elect two councillors for the ward tomorrow (Thursday 10 September).
There are 25,526 Leith Walk residents registered to vote in the election, which takes place in one of the most densely populated areas in Scotland.
Under the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system – a form of Proportional Representation – voters use numbers to rank the 10 candidates in order of preference rather than just using a single cross. Voters can express ‘preferences’ for as many or as few of the candidates as they wish.
This will be the first time in Scotland that an STV by-election has been needed to fill two vacancies in the same ward.
Andrew Kerr, Returning Officer for The City of Edinburgh, said: “This by-election will allow the residents of the Leith Walk ward to play a part in Edinburgh’s democracy, choosing two elected members to represent them and their interests on the City Council. I look forward to working with the electorate to make sure the process runs smoothly.
“Voters should remember that STV allows them to vote for as many candidates they like, numbering choices in order of preference.”
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on 10 September. There are 11 polling places in the ward, details of which can be found on polling cards and the Council website.
Votes will be taken to the Council HQ where the candidates and their agents will watch them counted electronically as soon as the polls close at 10pm.
Full details of candidates are also available on the Council website.
Find out more about the Single Transferable Vote system.
Leith Walk By-Election: In numbers
11 polling places
19 polling stations
3996 postal votes issued
2 councillors to be elected
10 candidates
25,526 eligible voters – about 7% of the city’s electorate
210 books of ballot papers (100 in each)
40 polling staff, including presiding officers and poll clerks.
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