East Lothian Council is to expand its election team to cope with extra work as it faces overseeing two election counts when residents go to the polls next year.
The Scottish Parliament election will see East Lothian split into two separate constituencies after boundary changes were introduced.
A report to councillors reveals the local authority will be overseeing the counts for both the new Edinburgh East, Musselburgh and Tranent ward and East Lothian Coastal ward.
And it says an additional elections officer is needed to support the team which prepares and oversees the procedure for six months in the run up to the event which is due to take place in May next year.
It is not known where the counts for the two wards will be held but ballot boxes have been brought to Meadowmill, near Tranent, in recent years and it is favourite to be the base on the night for both constituency results to be determined.
The report says the new role is likely to be filled internally with a current member of staff moving to the elections team for a six month secondment with the costs expected to be funded by the Scottish Government as part of the council’s election expenses claim.
It says: “Scottish Parliament Elections are due to take place in May 2026. Following a review of Scottish Parliament boundaries by Boundaries Scotland, East Lothian Council will be administering two constituencies.
“Given the volume of work required to carry this out it is proposed an additional member of the Election Team is appointed on an internal
secondment basis, ie they would be brought into the team for a period of six months.”
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
