Calling all residents of Corstorphine/Murrayfield! On March 9 choose your new ward councillor in a by-election.
Remember to vote in person on the day, return your postal vote as soon as possible or arrange a proxy vote
Find out more: https://edinburgh.gov.uk/elections
Nominations open today (Monday 23 January) for candidates to stand in the forthcoming Corstorphine/Murrayfield by-election which is being held following the resignation of Councillor Frank Ross.
On Thursday 9 March, Corstorphine/Murrayfield residents will go to the polls to select a new councillor to represent the ward which also covers Balgreen, Broomhall, Carrick Knowe, Ravelston and Roseburn and has a current electorate of 19,287.
An official Notice of Election was published on Friday explaining how to stand as a candidate, who is eligible to vote and how to make sure you are on the Electoral Register.
In order to stand as a candidate, individuals must submit nomination papers by 4pm on Monday 6 February.
Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council and Returning Officer, said: “The Notice of Election signifies the official start of the election period for Corstorphine/Murrayfield.
“I would urge all citizens in the ward to make sure they are registered and have their details or preference of how they would like to vote up to date in plenty of time. They should now think about the way they want to cast their vote – in a polling place or by post – and make sure to use that vote on 9 March.”
Anyone unsure about how to register, where to vote or how to vote by post can find more information on the Council website.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on 9 March. Details of where these are will be announced shortly.
People aged 16 and over and all those legally resident – including foreign citizens – can register to vote in this election.
Find out more about elections in Edinburgh and how to register to vote.
The deadline to register to vote is midnight Tuesday 21 February, to apply for a postal vote the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 22 February, and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 1 March.
The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) represents Scotland’s young people.
Democratically elected members listen to and recognise the issues that are most important to young people, ensuring that their voices are heard by decision-makers. All young people aged between 14 and 25 years old can stand for election to the SYP.
Following on from last year’s successful SYP elections in Edinburgh, one seat remains unfilled in Northern and Leith. SYP rules state that the vacancy should be filled.
Where a seat is vacant, it can be filled through existing youth structures.
We are therefore asking young people involved in pupil/student councils or other youth structures such as participation groups in youth work agencies if they are interested in becoming a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament for Northern and Leith.
Interested young people must live, study (i.e. go to school or college) or work in the constituency.
More information on becoming an MSYP is available at https://syp.org.uk/get-involved/have-your-voice-heard/
Any interested young people can contact Andy Welsh (andrew.welsh@ea.edin.sch.uk) if they are interested by Friday 11 February.
Full training and support is provided.
The SNP’s Ethan Young has won the vacant council seat in the Craigentinny Duddingston ward.
The by-election was brought about by the resignation of SNP councillor Ian Campbell, who resigned for health reasons back in February.
The SNP candidate was well ahead in First Preference votes and was elected at Stage Six:
ETHAN YOUNG (SNP) … 2920
Eleanor Price (Scottish Conservatives ) … 1420
Margaret Graham (Scottish Labour) … 1205
Ben Parker (Scottish Greens) … 1185
Elaine Ford (Scottish Lib Dems) … 631
Andrew McDonald (Independent) … 93
Tam Laird (Scottish Libertarian Party) … 42
The result makes no difference to the running of the city, where the SNP remains in charge with the support of Labour in the ‘Capital Coalition’.
Despite efforts to encourage people to vote, the turnout was just 31.6% – fewer than one in three voters cast their ballot.
Returning Officer for Edinburgh, Andrew Kerr, said: I’d like to thank all those who took part in the by-election, despite the challenging circumstances we face. It’s been a difficult year but local democracy is still extremely important, so I’m pleased to welcome Ethan Young, who will help represent the community as we work to emerge from the crisis, and on a range of other issues affecting the ward and city.
“I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and planning that has gone into staging this election. I’ve heard from many constituents who have praised the safe, physically distanced voting process, which is with thanks to our Elections Team, who have spent months preparing for the event.
Find further details of the results on the Council website.
The candidates standing in the forthcoming Craigentinny/Duddingston Council by-election have been confirmed. Seven candidates have been nominated to stand in the by-election, which is due to take place on 12 November.
There will be additional hygiene and distancing measures at polling places on the day to keep voters and staff safe. These include a new pencil for each voter, protective screens for polling staff, limits to the number of voters in polling places at one time and one-way systems in some venues.
The candidates standing for election are: –
Elaine Ford, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Margaret Arma Graham, Scottish Labour Party
Tam Laird, Scottish Libertarian Party
Andrew McDonald, Independent
Ben Parker, Scottish Green Party
Eleanor Price, Scottish Conservative and Unionist
Ethan Young, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Returning Officer for Edinburgh Andrew Kerr said: “Now that nominations have closed residents in the Craigentinny/Duddingston ward can begin to think about who they will vote for in the upcoming by-election. However, it’s crucial that you make sure you’re registered to vote by 27 October to take part.
“With less than a month to go our Elections Team are finalising plans for a safe, physically distanced by-election, with several hygiene and distancing measures to be put in place. Anyone can also register for a postal vote before 28 October if they’d prefer not to vote in person.”
If you live in the Craigentinny/Duddingston ward you must register to vote by 27 October and anyone wishing to vote by post can sign up for a new postal vote up until 28 October. Residents will begin receiving poll cards from tomorrow (Tuesday, 13 October).
You can also apply for someone to vote on your behalf via proxy voting, with the deadline for new proxy vote applications on 4 November (for registered voters). After this, anyone who is unable to vote in person because of a medical emergency or who is following advice in relation to Covid-19 can apply for a proxy vote before 5pm on 12 November.
The by-election follows the resignation of SNP Councillor Ian Campbell in February. Craigentinny/Duddingston is one of the city’s larger wards, with an electorate of 24,258.
As of 9 October, 3,693 people had registered for a postal vote.
While the Conservatives are currently now the biggest party group in the City Chambers with 17 councillors, the capital is run by the SNP (16) with the support of Labour(11) in a ‘Capital Coalition’.
Find out more about the Craigentinny/Duddingston by-election, including all the safety measures in place, on the Council website.
Candidates for the forthcoming Leith Walk by-election, which will take place on Thursday, 11 April, have been announced. Continue reading Leith Walk by-election candidates confirmed
Members of the public are being invited to quiz candidates contesting the forthcoming Leith Walk by-election at a hustings organised by the Save Leith Walk campaign. Continue reading Leith Walk by-election hustings
