Two by-elections will be held in Edinburgh on 3 September – in Portobello/Craigmillar (Ward 17) and in Southside/Newington (Ward 15) wards.

The electorate in Ward 15 is 24,666 and in Ward 17 the number of people eligible to vote is 28,062.

The electronic count will be held at The City Chambers on Thursday evening and The Edinburgh Reporter will be there to bring you the news of the two newest councillors in the capital.

In the by-elections the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system is used, when 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.

Polling places will be open from 7am to 10pm on 3 September.

Returning Officer for Edinburgh, 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 Edinburgh 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.”

Southside/Newington Ward information+

  • LIST OF CANDIDATES
  • Elliott, Ruth – Scottish Labour Party
  • Emms, Derrick – Edinburgh & East Lothian People
  • Gastel Alejandre, Isabella – Scottish Greens
  • Keirdashian, Roisin – Independent
  • Khovanov, Artie – Scottish Liberal Democrats
  • Layden, Nick – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
  • Lucas, Richard Crewe – Scottish Family Party – Christian Values
  • Mackenzie, Sam Alexander – Scottish National Party (SNP)
  • Moffat, Sean McGregor – Alliance for Democracy and Freedom
  • Neill, Gary – Reform UK
  • Rowbotham, Markham – Edinburgh & East Lothian People
  • Shillcock, Richard – Communist Party of Britain
  • Wilkinson, Marc – Edinburgh & East Lothian People

LIST OF POLLING PLACES

  • 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

Portobello/Craigmillar Ward information+

List of Candidates

  • Ballantine, David Craig – Alliance for Democracy and Freedom
  • Deepnarain, Niel – Scottish Family Party – Christian Values
  • Gregson, Pete – Workers Party of Britain
  • Martinico, Lorenzo – Scottish Greens
  • McGilvray, Silas – Scottish National Party (SNP)
  • McLaughlin, Andrew – Reform UK
  • Olech, Peter – Communist Party of Britain
  • Owen, Liss – Scottish Liberal Democrats
  • Wyke, Jim Patrick – Scottish Labour Party
  • Young, Haris – Scottish Conservative and Unionist

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

Edinburgh City Chambers. © 2026 Martin McAdam

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