The elections for the Scottish Parliament and North Lanarkshire Council on 3 May have been formally announced by the Scottish Executive.

 

The Notice of Election declares that elections will be held for the Scottish Parliament constituencies and for Central Scotland Region constituencies, as well as for the wards within North Lanarkshire Council.

 

Chief Executive of North Lanarkshire Council, Gavin Whitefield, is the Returning Officer for North Lanarkshire and the council has established an election office to manage all aspects of the running of the elections. The election office can answer any queries from members of the public, candidates and agents about voting arrangements and organisation of the election. Election office staff are available on 01698 302119 or 302190.

 

Information about all aspects of voting, including making sure you’re registered to vote, how to use your vote on 3 May and how votes will be counted is also available at www.votescotland.com.

 

Following the publication of the formal Notice of Election for North Lanarkshire, anyone who wants to stand for election as an MSP, Regional MSP or local councillor can now submit their nomination. Nomination forms and guidance notes are available from the election office at North Lanarkshire Council or from the Electoral Commission’s web site at www.electoralcommission.org.uk. All nominations must be submitted by 4pm on 11 April.

 

In North Lanarkshire, there are five Scottish Parliament constituencies: Airdrie and Shotts; Coatbridge and Chryston; Cumbernauld and Kilsyth; Hamilton North and Bellshill; and Motherwell and Wishaw. Votes cast in North Lanarkshire for the regional constituencies will contribute to electing the seven Regional MSPs for Central Scotland.

 

A new voting system for local government elections is being introduced at these elections. In the past, the local government elections have operated on a first-past-the-post system that elected one councillor to each of the 70 council wards. In May, a process called the single transferable vote – which is a form of proportional representation – will be used. In addition, the size of each ward has increased and there will be 20 larger wards represented by either three or four councillors.

 

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