The votes have been cast in the by-election in Craigentinny/Duddingston ward.
Until February 2020 the ward was represented by Ian Campbell who resigned due to ill health. Although the by election was to be held in May, this was postponed due to the pandemic. You can read about all seven candidates here.
The votes will be counted by election staff in the main chamber at the City Chambers from 10am on Friday morning and the results will probably be announced by the Chief Executive who is also the Returning Officer around lunchtime.
If you are voting today then you are assured that the council has made plans for safety in polling stations. They have confirmed to us that there is hand sanitiser, masks and surface cleaner to polling places and polling staff have been trained up on the specifics of holding an election safely while Covid-19 restrictions are in place.
This is one of the largest wards in the city with an electorate of 23,972. The council has provided additional hygiene and physical distancing measures in place today and they are reminding voters to wear face masks in polling places. Residents should not go to a polling place if they have coronavirus symptoms (or are self-isolating) but can apply for an emergency medical proxy vote up until 5pm on Thursday if needed.
Polling places will be open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday. Safeguards will include some limits on the number of people inside polling places to allow physical distancing, clear protective screens for polling place staff and fresh clean pencils for every voter. Doors will be left open to allow for ventilation and members of the public will be asked to leave the building straight after voting to minimise the number of people in buildings, in line with the Scottish Government’s FACTS advice.
Returning Officer for Edinburgh Andrew Kerr said: “Over recent months our Elections Team have been carefully planning for a safe by-election. They’re now putting the final touches to polling places, where there will be strict hygiene and physical distancing measures in place to protect voters and staff.
“I know Covid-19 has had a real impact on many aspects of our lives, but democracy continues and this by-election will help elect a new councillor to contribute to some of the big decisions affecting our city. I would encourage anyone who can to take part in the vote on Thursday.”
Seven candidates have been nominated for the by-election.
As at yesterday 2,310 of the 3,821 constituents who signed up for a postal vote have returned theirs. Anyone who has not been able to post their vote to arrive by 10pm on Thursday can hand it in to a polling place on Thursday.
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
