Candidates for Scottish Parliament Election Announced
Date: 1 April 2026
Time: 05:00 PM
Five candidates have put their names forward to stand for the Orkney Islands Constituency in the Scottish Parliament Election in May.
The deadline for nominations for the poll closed at 4pm this afternoon (Wednesday 1 April).
The candidates whose names will appear on the constituency ballot paper on polling day are:
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John William COUPLAND - Reform UK
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Jamie HALCRO JOHNSTON – Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Robert Fraser LESLIE – Scottish National Party (SNP)
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Mike MACLEOD – Scottish Labour Party
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Liam Scott MCARTHUR – Scottish Liberal Democrats
The election will be held on Thursday, 7 May 2026 with the votes counted at the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall on the morning of Friday, 8 May 2026.
There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). If you live in Orkney, you are represented by eight MSPs:
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One Constituency MSP for the Orkney Islands Constituency
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Seven MSPs for the wider Highlands and Islands Region.
Voters will vote using:
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A lilac ballot paper to choose a person to be the Constituency MSP for the Orkney Islands
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A peach ballot paper to choose the list members for the Region.
For each ballot paper, place a single X in the box next to the candidate or party you want to vote for.
Orkney Islands is part of the Highlands and Islands Region and the Regional results from the Constituency will be transmitted to the Regional Returning Officer who will aggregate the results for the Highlands and Islands Region and allocate the seats accordingly.
Over 17,800 poll cards have now been posted and delivered through the letterboxes of registered voters across Orkney.
At this election, poll cards are slightly different, and in the form of a letter inside an envelope instead of the traditional card.
The key dates to remember in the run up to 7 May are:
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The deadline for registering to vote is Monday 20 April
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Those wishing to apply for, or make changes to a postal vote must do so by Tuesday 21 April at 17:00
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For those wishing to appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf the deadline date is Tuesday 28 April at 17:00.
If you’re registered to vote, you can download an application form for a postal vote at http://www.orkney-shetland-vjb.co.uk.
Once completed, the form can be posted to the Electoral Registration Office, 8 Broad Street, Kirkwall KW15 1NX, or a scanned copy can be sent by email to ero@orkney.gov.uk
Alternatively, phone our local Electoral Registration Office on 01856 876222 or email ero@orkney.gov.uk to request an application form
More information about the upcoming election is available here - Scottish Parliament Election - 7 May 2026
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Category:
- Elections
