Elgin North by-election - take care of your postal vote.

In just three days since their issue, over a third of postal votes issued for the Ward 6 – Elgin City North Local Government By-Election have already been returned ahead of the poll next Thursday.

Postal voters still to return their ballot papers are being urged to take care in completing them. Depute Returning Officer for Moray, Moira Patrick, said: “ It is important to complete the postal voting statement in full, so the accompanying ballot paper will count.

“Some common mistakes seen on returned statements include simple errors such as not completing the date of birth in full.

“Sometimes, if more than one voter in the household has a postal vote they complete the one that’s not in their name. Almost without exception, during the last two elections this tends to be when the husband is completing the wife’s postal vote statement by mistake, and realises it after having written on it. Please take care to ensure that you have the postal vote addressed to you.”

Any voter with issues with their postal vote should contact the elections office for help. Voters are encouraged to return their postal vote as soon as possible to ensure it reaches the count in good time before next week’s poll.

There will be seven polling stations across four sites open next Thursday. Voters do not have to take their poll card with them to vote, but it helps the staff at the polling station if they do. Polling stations are located at Bishopmill Hall, Seafield School, Williamson Hall off Duff Avenue and Elgin Community Church, Pinefield.

The by-election was called after councillor Sandy Cooper, elected at the local government elections on May 5, resigned on May 9.