Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election – voters go to the polls

Voters in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse are heading to the polls to elect a brand new MSP.

A by-election is being held following the dying of the SNP’s Christina McKelvie.

The polls open at 07:00 and shut at 22:00, with a end result anticipated within the early hours of Friday morning.

In what’s the first Scottish Parliament by-election since 2019, events are aiming to construct momentum forward of subsequent yr’s Holyrood elections.

There are 10 candidates contesting the by-election. They’re:

• Collette Bradley – Scottish Socialist Get together
• Andy Brady – Scottish Household Get together
• Ross Lambie – Reform UK
• Katy Loudon – SNP
• Janice Mackay – UK Independence Get together
• Ann McGuinness – Scottish Inexperienced Get together
• Aisha Mir – Scottish Liberal Democrats
• Richard Nelson – Scottish Conservative
• Davy Russell – Scottish Labour
• Marc Wilkinson – Impartial

Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse had been held by McKelvie because the constituency was created in 2011.

The SNP MSP served in a number of authorities roles, latterly as medication and alcohol minister.

She died aged 57 in March after being identified with secondary breast most cancers.

The brand new MSP will solely be in place for lower than a yr earlier than the Scottish Parliament elections, scheduled for Could 2026.

The by-election can be a first-past-the-post poll, which means the candidate with the very best variety of votes will develop into the constituency’s new MSP.

Voters don’t want ID to forged their poll.

South Lanarkshire Council has suggested these voting by put up that in the event that they haven’t despatched their poll in good time to reach by 22:00, they’ll hand them in to a polling station.

The council has revealed extra recommendation on its web site.

The BBC, like different broadcasters, just isn’t allowed to report particulars of campaigning or election points whereas polls are open.

As soon as polls shut, the BBC Scotland Information web site will run a dwell web page offering updates from the depend in Hamilton, in addition to skilled evaluation from correspondents and pundits.

There will even be a BBC Scotland by-election particular on BBC One Scotland, the BBC Information channel and the BBC Scotland Information web site from midnight, introduced by Martin Geissler.