Candidates for Highland Council By-Election /ward 4 confirmed

21st May 2026

Following today’s deadline for nominations the nnmbers are in. The Highland Council can confirm the details of the 5 candidates that are standing in the Ward 4 East Sutherland and Edderton By-election.

The candidates standing are:

AVREY, Jay – Reform UK
DE VENNY, Eric – Scottish Liberal Democrats
MACHIN, Rebecca – Scottish National Party (SNP)
MURRAY, John – Independent
SHORT, Eva – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
The Notice of Poll and the Statement of Persons nominated are available on the Council’s website – highland.gov.uk/byelection

Voting will take place on Thursday 25 June 2026 with the electronic count to be held the following day.

Ward 4 is a 3-member Ward. The successful candidate will join fellow ward members Councillors Richard Gale and Leslie-Anne Niven.

Everyone, regardless of their circumstances, should be able to participate in elections and cast their vote with confidence. We have made the voting process accessible for both postal voters and in person voters and have put in place various measures including reasonable adjustments for anyone with a disability.

Anyone over 16 years old who is living in the Ward is eligible to take part in this by-election if they are registered to vote. To register to vote visit gov.uk/register-to-vote or alternatively phone the Electoral Registration Office on 0800 393783 for assistance. The last date to register to vote in this by-election is midnight on Monday 8 June 2026.

Voters in the East Sutherland and Edderton Ward will be able to cast their vote in person on the day by visiting their local polling station, or they can apply for either a postal vote or to vote by proxy. Some voters may find it more convenient to use a postal vote rather than travelling to a polling station.

The latest time to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 9 June 2026 and the deadline for anyone wishing to appoint a proxy, which is someone to vote on their behalf, is 5pm on Wednesday 17 June 2026.

Advice on postal and proxy voting is available by phoning the Electoral Registration Office on 0800 393783 or emailing ero@highland.gov.uk