Postal voters asked to return papers early

Postal voters in the upcoming Moray Council elections are being urged to return their voting papers as soon as possible.

More than 14,000 people – roughly one in five of the electorate – have opted to vote by post for the elections on Thursday, May 4. As of today, just over 39% of postal votes had been returned.

A further 300 postal voted are due to be issued tomorrow.

Depute returning officer Moira Patrick appealed to postal voters to return their ballot papers promptly.

“There are only 10 days to polling day and the May Day holiday next Monday puts additional pressure on our small elections team,” she said.

“It is encouraging that so many people have returned their postal votes already and I’m sure that more will come flooding in over the next few days.

“But I would urge those who have not posted back their ballot papers to do so quickly and not leave it to the last minute.”

Mrs Patrick repeated her earlier call for postal voters to read very carefully the instructions included with their ballot papers.

The council elections employ a single transferable vote (STV) system rather than a first-past-the-post method, with voters asked to select candidates in terms of preference using numbers rather than a cross.

Voters are free to vote for as many or as few candidates as they wish on the ballot paper.

Those eligible to vote in next month’s local government elections include 16 and 17-year-olds for the first time.

Forty-five candidates have put themselves forward for the 26 seats on Moray Council, which has eight multi-member wards.

The election count will take place at Elgin Town Hall on Friday, May 5, with the successful candidates serving a five-year term as councillors.

Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 95,510 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.

Headquartered in  Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.