There are different types of elections for which the Returning Officer for Moray helps to manage. The Returning Officer is the person in charge of conduct of elections and counting of any votes in a constituency. The Returning Officer for Moray is the Chief Executive of The Moray Council.
To see which elections are running currently please visit the forthcoming elections page.
The European Parliament in Brussels represents people living in the 27 member countries of the European Union (EU) on matters such as foreign affairs, development, agriculture, civil liberties and fisheries. Ministers of the European Parliament are called MEPs and have the power to approve, amend or reject nearly all EU legislation. The European Parliament also decides on the EU budget and influences how EU money is spent.
There are currently 785 MEPs, 78 of whom come from the UK and 7 of which represent Scotland.
A list of MEPs currently representing Scotland can be found on the UK Office of European Parliament website or as a downloadable PDF.
European Parliament Elections are held every five years with the last being in June 2004 and the next election due in June 2009.
More information about European Parliament
Go to Find MEP's for UK - website
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The General Election is when you vote to for an MP (Members of Parliament) to represent Moray to the House of Commons, which is the primary legislative chamber of the UK located in at the UK Parliament in Westminster, London.
The United Kingdom is split into constituencies, and each constituency votes for an MP (Member of Parliament) to represent them, using the 'first past the post' system.
The last General Election was held in May 2005 with the next scheduled for May 2010. At least every five years there is a general election, when the MPs are elected. The Prime Minister decides on the timing of the election, and can call an election at any time, but one must be called within five years of the one before. It is usual for an election to be called after four years.
The current MP for Moray is Angus Robertson (SNP). You can find any MP by using this search facility provided by the UK Parliament.
More information about UK Parliament
Go to Angus Robertson - SNP (MP) - website
The Scottish Parliament, based in Edinburgh was officially opened on 1 July 1999. It is responsible legislation for devolved matters e.g. planning, education, environment and health and social services. Elected candidates are called MSPs (Minster of Scottish Parliament).
The Parliament consists of 129 MSPs, comprising 73 Constituency MSPs and 56 Regional MSPs. When you vote in a Scottish Parliament election, you have two votes – one to elect your constituency member and one to elect your regional member (additonal member system). In the constituency ballot, you choose the candidate you want to represent you directly. In the regional ballot, you choose from a list of party or independent candidates to represent your region. In Moray we are part of the Highlands’ and Islands region.
Moray is represented by 1 Moray Constituency MSP, and 7 Regional MSPs.
Elections for the Scottish Parliament occur every four years with the last election in May 2007 and the next election scheduled for May 2011.
The current MSP for Moray is Richard Lochhead (SNP). You can find any MSP by using this postcode locator facility.
More information about the Scottish Parliament
More information about the Scottish Parliament Users for British Sign Language Users
Go to Richard Lochhead - SNP (MSP) - website
Local Government elections elect your local Councillors to represent the District of Moray. There are 8 Multi-member Wards in the Moray area, with a total of 26 serving councillors who currently serve a four year term. The last Local Government election was held in May 2007 and the next is due in May 2011.
| Ward No. | Ward Name |
No. of Councillors |
|
1 |
Speyside Glenlivet | 3 |
| 2 | Keith and Cullen | 3 |
| 3 | Buckie | 3 |
| 4 | Fochabers Lhanbryde | 3 |
| 5 | Heldon and Laich | 4 |
| 6 | Elgin City North | 3 |
| 7 | Elgin City South | 3 |
| 8 | Forres | 4 |
For more information about your local councillor please visit the dedicated webpage's on Councillors and Commitees.
The Community Councils' role is to communicate local opinion to larger bodies of local and central government. Members are elected every four years to represent the Community council area.
If there are less candidates than seats, no election will be held. If membership of the community council falls to less than half, then the Community Council shall not operate until there are enough members.
The last Community Council election was held in October 2005 and the next election is due in Autumn 2009.
More information about Community Councils
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A by-election occurs when a seat becomes vacant between elections for reasons such as resignation, expulsion, bankruptcy or death of the sitting Member. By-Elections can be held for European, UK, Scottish Parliaments and Local Government.
By-elections may also be held for Community Councils when the membership falls to below half.
The last Moray by-election was held in 2008 for a Local Government Councillor in Ward 7 - Elgin City South.
From August 2007, with the implementation of the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006, Parent Councils became the representative body for parents replacing school boards in Moray schools.
Elections will be conducted at the request of the individual parent councils.
The Cairngorm National Park holds elections to elect five community representatives to their board. The Park Boundary encompasses an area of Moray within Cairngorm National Park Ward 4 – Aberdeenshire/Moray.
Elections to this board are administered by the Returning Officer based at the Highland Council. The last election was held in March 2007 and the next election is due in March 2011.