Postal strikes have led to voters in tomorrow's Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh ward by-election being reminded they can hand in late ballots at polling stations.
The by-election will see one councillor elected to fill a vacancy in the ward. The by-election comes after the death of Councillor Ann Davidson on 8th September following a short illness. Councillor Davidson was elected for Labour at this year’s council poll on 5 May.
The polls will open at 7am and will close at 10pm. Registered voters should have already received their poll cards, detailing their local polling station.
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In guidance released ahead of the vote, it was noted that industrial action by the Royal Mail was expected to take place on November 30 and December 1, affecting both collections and deliveries.
This means postal votes posted on or after 29 November will not be delivered to the Returning Officer by 10pm on 1 December, and anyone who has left it late to post their vote has been advised to instead hand it in in to any polling place being used in the ward on polling day.
Their are eight candidates fighting for the seat, with the winning councillor to be selected through a form of proportional representation.
This means voters will be asked to number the candidates in order of their choice. They should put a 1 in the box next to their first choice, a 2 in the box next to their second choice and so on. Voters can make as many or as few choices as they wish.
Only numbers should be used, and any other marks on the ballot paper, including crosses, could mean votes are not counted.
The full list of candidates standing this Thursday is:
Tony Boyle, Scottish Labour.
Peter John Clarke, Scottish Liberal Democrats.
Chris Cotter, Scottish Greens.
Debbie Ewen, Alba Party for Independence.
Chris Horne, Independent.
Steven Robert Laidlaw, Independent.
Douglas Smith, Scottish Conservative and Unionist.
Thomas George Ullathorne, SNP
The polling places are:
- Dechmont Memorial Hall, Main Street, Dechmont, EH52 6LJ
- Ecclesmachan Community Hall, Ecclesmachan, EH52 6NG
- Uphall Community Centre, Strathbrock Place, Uphall, EH52 6BN
- Kirkhill Primary School, Rashierig, Broxburn, EH52 6AW
- Strathbrock Partnership (Comm Centre Hall), West Main Street, Broxburn, EH52 5LH
- Broxburn Sports Centre, Church Street, Broxburn, EH52 5EL
- Winchburgh Primary School, Glendevon Park, Winchburgh, EH52 6UE
- Winchburgh Community Centre, Craigton Place, Winchburgh, EH52 6RW
Voters can also return completed postal votes to the Civic Centre, Howden South Road, Livingston, EH54 6FF from now until 10pm on 1 December 2022.
For more on the by-election please visit the West Lothian Council website: https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/BUW-Byelection
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