Residents urged to vote in council By-election
The formal notice of election for the forthcoming council By-election in Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor has been published today (Wednesday 2 July).
Published 2 July 2025
The By-election will be held on Thursday 21 August, with the polls open from 7am to 10pm and more than 15,000 residents eligible to cast their vote.
The By-election in the Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor ward follows the death of Councillor Betty Cunningham OBE.
Council elections use the Single Transferrable Vote (STV) system, which asks voters to mark their candidates in numerical order of preference, rather than using an X.
Voters put the number 1 in the box next to the name of the candidate who is their first choice, then put 2 in the box next to the name of the candidate who is their second choice, 3 in the box next to their third choice and so on. You can make as many or as few choices as you wish.
Anyone over the age of 16 is eligible to vote in council by-elections.
Returning Officer Steven Quinn said: 'It's very important that all residents in the Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor ward use their vote. The successful candidate elected as a Councillor will make decisions on behalf of residents about a wide range of services across East Renfrewshire including schools, roads and parks. It's also important to be aware that it's a different voting system from last year's General Election and there will be clear guidance on this on the ballot paper and in voting booths on the day. There will be no requirement to produce photographic ID at this By-election.'
If you want to stand as a candidate in the By-election, the deadline for nominations is 4pm on Friday 18 July and a full list of candidates will be published on the council's website after that.
The deadline for registering to vote is midnight on Tuesday 5 August. To register to vote, go online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
The deadline for new postal vote applications and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes is 5pm on Wednesday 6 August. To make an application for a postal vote, or make changes to your existing postal or proxy vote, you must contact the Electoral Registration Officer on 0300 300 0150 or via email on ero@renfrewshire-vjb.gov.uk.
Unlike the General Election there will be no requirement to complete a postal vote handling form when handing your postal vote into a Polling Place in the Ward or at the council election office on Polling Day.
