Leith Walk byelection – make sure you have registered to vote by tomorrow

Edinburgh’s Returning Officer has urged people living in the Leith Walk ward to make sure they are registered to vote in the area’s forthcoming by-election.

Eligible residents must register by midnight tomorrow Tuesday, 26 March to have their say in the Leith Walk By-Election on 11 April.

Anyone living in the area who is aged 16 or over and a qualifying citizen – British, Irish, EU or Commonwealth – can take part in the vote, which will select a new councillor from 11 candidates.

Andrew Kerr, Returning Officer for Edinburgh, has encouraged the public to participate in the democratic process by helping elect a councillor to represent their interests when making decisions both locally and at a citywide level.

He said: “We are keenly aware of the importance of democracy as a nation at the moment, with political developments dominating the news. It’s important that we exercise our voting rights at a local level too though, and I would urge people living in the Leith Walk ward to do just that by participating in the area’s forthcoming by-election.

“By helping to elect a new councillor, residents will choose an individual to represent their views and interests throughout the Council’s decision-making process, both locally and citywide. But you can only take part if you’re registered, so I would urge anyone who hasn’t already to do so in time, by midnight on 26 March.”

Voter registration can be done online or by contacting the Electoral Registration Office on 0131 344 2500. Votes can be cast by post or by proxy if more convenient – the deadline for new postal vote applications is 5pm, Wednesday (27 March). 

On 11 April, polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm at:

• Lorne Primary School
• Norton Park Conference Centre
• Holy Cross RC Primary School
• Ebenezer United Free Church Hall
• Royal Navy and Royal Marine Association Club
• Broughton Nursery
• Pilrig St Paul’s Church Hall
• McDonald Road Library
• Leith Walk Primary School

The by-election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system where voters can rank candidates in order of preference using numbers rather than a single cross. Voters can choose to vote for as many or as few candidates as they like. The result of the by-election will be announced once the votes are counted after polls close at 10pm on Thursday 11 April.

Find out more about the Leith Walk by-election.