Voter deadlines for Local Government Election

Local voters are being reminded that key deadlines are approaching ahead of the Local Government Elections on 5 May 2022.

People aged 16 or over, on 5 May, can vote in the election. The deadline for making sure you are registered to vote is Monday 18 April. If you haven't received your poll card yet then you should make sure you are registered and you can do this online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Alternatively, phone our local Electoral Registration Office on 01856 876222 or email ero@orkney.gov.uk to request an application form.

The Electoral Registration Officer has written to households in Orkney, ahead of the Local Government Elections listing electors who are currently registered to vote and if they have a postal vote in place.

Remember anyone not included on that letter can register to vote between now and Monday 18 April. Anyone registered to vote but not listed as a postal voter can apply to vote by post by visiting www.orkney-shetland-vjb.co.uk and downloading the application form, which must be returned by 5pm on Tuesday 19 April, or sooner.

To appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf, completed applications must be received by the Electoral Registration Office by 5pm on Tuesday 26 April. Appointed proxies wishing to vote by post must apply to do so, to the Electoral Registration Office, by the earlier cut off of 5pm on Tuesday 19 April.

Postal voting packs will start arriving between Thursday 14 April and Tuesday 19 April.

If you have any queries about your registration or postal voting please contact the Electoral Registration Office on 01856 876222 or email ero@orkney.gov.uk

One of our regular Polling Stations has moved – voters in Evie and Rendall will be invited to attend at the Rendall Community Centre and not the Evie Church.

In addition, following the recent Boundary Commission Review, there are slight changes to ward boundaries in Kirkwall and East Mainland, South Ronaldsay and Burray.  Firstly, the two Kirkwall wards are amended at Kirkwall Harbour to create a more easily identifiable ward boundary and secondly the Kirkwall East boundary is extended southwards to include Kirkwall Airport and former Wideford ward.

Here’s a couple of reminders of what to expect on the day:

• Polling Stations will be open from 07:00 (7am) – 22:00 (10pm) and all safety precautions and guidance measures will be adhered to as required at that time and depending on the local situation with regards to COVID.
• Voters are welcome to take their own pen or pencil, however there will be a fresh, clean one available for each person.

The list of candidates hoping to become an Orkney Islands Council Elected Member at the local elections in May has been published.

All voters in Orkney will have the opportunity to go to the polls, with an election taking place in all six wards.

There are 5 candidates standing in Kirkwall East, 8 in Kirkwall West and Orphir, 6 in Stromness and the South Isles, 6 in the West Mainland, 5 in the East Mainland and 5 in the North Isles. The full list of candidates is available at www.orkney.gov.uk/LGE22

After going to the polls, the count will take place at The Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall on the morning of Friday May 6.

The Council’s Returning Officer, John Mundell, said: "We all now know who the candidates are for each area and there’s a number of new faces in among those who have opted to stand once more. The choice is now everyone’s to make and I am delighted that there will be a democratic contest for each ward. It’s so important for those who are eligible to vote to do so.

“A huge amount of behind-the-scenes work goes on by our Election team to ensure voters are furnished with as much information as possible about the election on the processes and system in place and this will continue right up to polling and count days. We will also be sharing lots of public information about on how the change to the voting system in place – proportional representation as opposed to first past the post.”