Notice of Election - Scottish Parliament Election 2026 for the Orkney Islands Constituency

1.     An election is to be held for a Constituency Member to serve in the Scottish Parliament for the Orkney Islands Constituency.

2.     Nomination papers can be obtained from the office of the Constituency Returning Officer, Council Offices, School Place, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NY, during the times stated below.

3.     Nomination papers must be delivered to the Constituency Returning Officer at the Council Offices, School Place, Kirkwall, Orkney between the hours of 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm on any working day after the date of this notice but no later than 4.00 pm on Wednesday 1 April 2026.

4.     The £500 deposit can be paid by legal tender or by means of a banker’s draft acceptable to the Constituency Returning Officer or by means of a debit or credit card or the electronic transfer of funds.

5.     If the election is contested the poll will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026.

6.     Applications to register to vote must reach the relevant Electoral Registration Officer by 12 midnight on Monday 20 April 2026. Applications can be made online: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

7.     Applications, amendments or cancellation of postal votes must reach the relevant Electoral Registration Officer at the address below by 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026. 

8.     Applications to vote by proxy at this election must reach the relevant Electoral Registration Officer at the address below by 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026.

9.     Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election can be made after the 28 April 2026 deadline on the grounds of: 

1. disability suffered after that deadline (or, for applicants who suffered a disability before the deadline, their disability meant that they could not reasonably have made an application in time)
2. the need to accompany an individual to attend medical care or treatment arising after that deadline
3. being detained in a hospital under the civil sections of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 arising after that deadline
4. work/service reasons arising after that deadline
5. Scottish prisoners serving a sentence of 12 months or less arising after that deadline
6. circumstances that mean the appointed proxy cannot reasonably be expected to vote in person at the polling station arising after that deadline

Applications must reach the relevant Electoral Registration Officer at the address below by 5pm on Thursday 7 May 2026.

Oliver David Reid

The Constituency Returning Officer

Election Office

Council Offices

School Place

KIRKWALL

Orkney 

KW15 1NY

Tel: (01856) 886350

Email: electionoffice@orkney.gov.uk

Dated: 16 March 2026