By-elections in Southside/Newington (Ward 15) and Portobello/Craigmillar (Ward 17) take place this Thursday (3 September).
We’re urging residents in these wards to remember their polling cards and to cast their votes.
Residents in these wards who are aged 16 or over and have registered to vote can participate in Thursday’s by-elections.
One new councillor will be elected for each ward. The current electorate for Ward 15 is 24,666 and for Ward 17 it’s 28,062.
Returning Officer for 乐播传媒, Paul Lawrence said:
With these by-elections fast approaching, I encourage residents in these wards to take this opportunity to have their say on Thursday. Please remember your polling cards and check your polling place. These new councillors will represent your communities on issues affecting your local area and 乐播传媒 as a whole.
Our elections pages provide useful information on how the Single Transferable Vote system works - you can rank candidates in order of preference, choosing as many or few as you’d like.
If you're voting by post, please return your completed ballot as soon as possible to make sure your vote is counted.
Please check your polling place as this may have changed since the last time you voted. If you bring your polling card to vote this will help us and speed up the process, but this isn’t mandatory.
A full list of the candidates standing in both wards is available on the Council’s website.
Further information on voting in Ward 15 and Ward 17, including accessibility information and spoken ballot papers are also on the Council’s website.
Polling places will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 3 September.
Polling Places (Ward 15):
- Nelson Hall Community Centre (New for 2026)
- Blackford and Grange Parish Church Centre
- St. Catherine's Argyle Church
- Newington Trinity Church
- Reid Memorial Church Hall
- 75th Braid Scouts' Millar Hall
- Cameron House Community Education Centre
Polling Places (Ward 17):
- Portobello Library (New for 2026)
- Branch Out Together
- St Mark’s Episcopal Church (New for 2026)
- Bingham Community Centre
- St Martins Parish Church
- Craigmillar Library
- Hays Business Centre
- Newcraighall Leith Victoria FC
The by-elections will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, where voters rank candidates in order of preference, rather than using a single cross. Voters can rank as many or as few candidates as they like.
The electronic count will take place at Waverley Court, starting at the close of poll at 10pm on September 3.