Last chance to register to vote in upcoming Scot Parl election: deadline is midnight on Mo 18 Apr

You can’t vote in the upcoming Scottish parliament election unless you’ve registered.

We encourage everyone to get registered as soon as possible, but the deadline is midnight on Monday 18 April 2016. 

You can register online via www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Vacancies on Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council

Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council has a few vacancies for those who would like to be co-opted.  

Community Councils are voluntary, statutory bodies made up of local residents. We exist to ascertain, co-ordinate and express the Marchmont & Sciennes community’s views to public bodies at every level, especially with the City of Edinburgh Council.

Issues we cover include:

Planning

Roads

Schools

Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs)

Refuse/Recycling/Street cleaning

Licensing

Parks and Green Space

Anti-social behaviour

If you think you might be interested please get in touch (with no commitment!) with the secretary using the e-mail or telephone contact details in the right hand column of this infoblog.

Don't forget to vote in the UK Parliamentary General Election on 7 May 2015

The number of people registered and voting in the Scottish Independence Referendum was at a record level. Many people, including lots of older people, voted for the first time.  It would be great if people don’t just vote once in their lifetime but instead turn out every time to have their say on important matters.

Info from the council on how to find out where, when and how to vote

Your poll card tells you where your polling place is. Check that you’re going to the right place as it might have changed since the last time you voted.  You don’t need to bring your poll card with you to vote but it does help to make the voting process faster.

If you have a postal vote, follow the instructions carefully – your signature and date of birth on the statement are both needed.  A common reason for postal votes being rejected is the signature or date of birth not matching – make sure yours do. Please return your postal vote as soon as possible.

Whether you are voting in person or by post, make sure you vote with a single X. Please don’t write any other comments on the paper as then it might not be clear how you are voting.

Polling Places will be open from 7am until 10pm. Don’t leave it too late to cast your vote.

For more information about where, when and how to vote visit the City of Edinburgh Council website.

Register by 20 April to ensure you can vote in the General Election

General Election – 7 May 2015 The number of people registering and voting in the Scottish Independence Referendum was at a record level. Many people, including those in their 60s and older, voted for the first time. We want to make sure that people don’t just vote once in their lifetime but they vote every time to have their say on important matters. Have you moved home since August? Or changed your name? Update your voter registration details If you were registered to vote in the Referendum and your details have not changed, you do not need to register again. If your details have changed, it’s really important that you tell us so that you can vote. You can now register or update your details online using the Government website. You will need to do this by20 April. If you are not sure if you are registered, contact the Electoral Registration Office on 0131 344 2500. For more information about where, when and how to vote visit the City of Edinburgh Council website.

Scottish Independence Referendum - Register to vote

	100 days to go
There are only 100 days until the Scottish Independence Referendum on Thursday 18 September 2014. To be able to vote you must be registered by 2 September 2014. Registration Roadshows Come along to one of our Registration Roadshows to check if you are registered and sign up - it only takes a few minutes. You can also register by contacting the Electoral Registration Office directly. Being on the register gives you the chance to have a say on important issues that affect you. It can also improve your credit rating and help with background checks. Find out more about how to vote in the Referendum.
Use, don’t lose your vote

City of Edinburgh Council Polling Place Review Consultation (till 22 Nov 13)

City of Edinburgh Council have a duty to review polling districts, places and stations in Edinburgh every five years.  

They have recently reviewed polling stations to ensure that:

• they are as easy to use and reach for as many people as possible, including those with a disability
• they follow the guidance from the Electoral Commission.

The Council has made some changes and you can a view a list of the proposed polling places, or it can be inspected at the City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh.

You can find further information which may help you comment on the review, for example maps of the wards showing the proposed polling places and estimates of changing populations.

If you have any comments about the proposed changes, please complete this online form between 1 and 22 November 2013.  If you suggest any changes to the proposed polling places, you must outline the benefits to the electors who would be affected.  Please also tell us how people with disabilities would be able to use and get into the building.

The Council will make a  final decision on future polling places on 12 December 2013, and the results will be published online and at the City Chambers.

Don't miss out on your chance to vote in the Independence (or not) referendum and the European election

Marchmont & Sciennes residents, including sixteen and seventeen year olds are encouraged to register ready for the independence (or not) referendum next year.

Lothian residents will shortly receive their annual electoral registration form through the post and are being encouraged to complete and return it promptly so they can have their say at next year's polls.

In 2014 Electors will be able to cast their vote at the European election in May and at the independence referendum in September.  Anyone who is aged 16 or over on 18 September 2014 will be able to vote in the referendum, so every house is also being sent a 'young voters' form to register their details. People completing the registration forms are being urged to make sure the details of any soon-to-be 16 or 17 year olds in their household are included.

People who don't receive their forms should contact the electoral registration office on 0131 344 2500.

Electoral Registration Officer Joan Hewton said: "People are talking about the referendum with family and friends, but the only way to have your say is to vote on 18 September 2014, so make sure you're registered to vote. Registering is quick and simple. All you have to do is update and return the registration forms with details of everyone who lives in your household and is eligible to vote; and remember to include anyone who will turn 16 by 18th September 2014. It’s straightforward, any young person who is 15 and will be 16 by the 18th September 2014 should add their details to the young person’s form and anyone 16 or over should add their details to the main household canvass form."

Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places

The City of Edinburgh Council must ensure that all electors have reasonable facilities for voting and that arrangements are as realistic as possible. We must also make sure that, as far as is reasonable and practicable, the polling places are accessible to all electors including those with disabilities.


The Council has a statutory duty to review all polling districts, places and stations every four years. The last review was in 2007. There has recently been a review of the constituency boundaries for the Scottish Parliament and the opportunity is being taken to undertake another review, so that the new electoral register, which will be published on 1 December 2010, reflects these new boundaries.


A consultation on the revised proposals started yesterday. Any interested person or body can submit suggestions for change.  Public access to the information is available at the City Chambers and can be accessed on-line at any Library in the City. Please submit your comments (to polling.consultation@edinburgh.gov.uk) by 1 October 2010.


If you have any general questions about the review, or the maps, please contact Mairi Cruikshank in the first instance.

Please give the Council your views: Community Council Publicity

Eileen Hewitt (Community Council Liaison & Development Officer at Services for Communities) is working with City of Edinburgh Council Corporate Communications to develop a communications plan in the run up to the community council elections in October.   

It would assist greatly if you could send her your views by completing a survey. Please respond by Friday 15 May.

Review of polling districts and polling places

From: Shona Macarthur
Sent: 22 August 2007 12:08
To: Eileen Hewitt
Subject: POLLING DISTRICT REVIEW
Importance: High

Dear Sir/Madam

Review of polling districts and polling places

You may be aware that the Council has a statutory requirement to review all polling districts and polling places before the end of this year.

It is planned to complete this work at the Council meeting in November, in time for publication of the new electoral register in December.

The attached notice will be published on 27 August. It will be the start of a consultation period during which any interested person or body can submit suggestions for change. You can view or download this material from the Council’s website.

Public access to this information is also available at all Libraries, at City Chambers, and the Council’s offices at Waverley Court and Chesser House.

Your comments must be submitted by Friday 5 October. Any comments that you submitted following the recent elections will also be taken into account.

Comments received during the consultation process will be analysed and reported to a Cross Party Working Group prior to finalising the report to the Council.

If you have any general questions about the review, or the maps please contact Mairi Cruikshank: (Ph: 0131 469 3863, e-mail: mairi.cruickshank@edinburgh.gov.uk) in the first instance.

Yours faithfully

Scott Macvean

For Council Secretary

Electoral Administration Act 2006
Notice of Review of Polling Districts, Places and Stations

Polling District Review

The City of Edinburgh Council has a duty to review all polling districts, places and stations by the end of 2007.

The Council must ensure that all electors have reasonable facilities for voting and that they are as practicable as possible. We must also make sure that, as far as is reasonable and practicable, the polling places are accessible to all electors including those who are disabled.

Where to find information about the review

Copies of the proposed polling districts, places stations and other supporting information can be viewed at:

• any Council Library in Edinburgh

• City Chambers (City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1YJ)

• Council Headquarters (Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG)

• Chesser House (500 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh EH11 3YJ)

Alternatively, you can access and download any of this material from the Council website www.edinburgh.gov.uk

How to respond

If you want to have your say regarding your polling station, we would like to hear from you. If at all possible, please suggest a better alternative station. We can accept comments from you up to 5^th October 2007 and you can respond in the following ways:

By Post FREEPOST RRGY-RJKL-YJRT Polling District and Polling Station Review City of Edinburgh Council Level 2/1 Waverley Court 4 East Market Street Edinburgh EH8 8B	By Email pollingconsultation@edinburgh.gov.uk
	By Fax 0131-529-6220

If you have any questions about the review or require any further information

please call 0131-469-3863

What happens next

After 5^th October we will consider your comments and then put forward a report to the Council and it is our intention to incorporate these changes in the new electoral register published on 1 December 2007.

Election Hustings

Anne Laing has asked me to tell you about the election hustings coming up soon.

They will be at:

Marchmont St Giles Church
Thursday 26th April at 7.30

Election Debate - You missed it, they cancelled it

Umm, I received this while I was abroad on business so you all missed it. Sorry about that. But, be consoled, since no one seemed interested they cancelled it anyway!