Elections and voting

Ward 8 – Cumnock and New Cumnock by-election

A by-election will take place within Ward 8 - Cumnock and New Cumnock on Thursday 10 December 2026 for the election of one Councillor.

Polling places

Polling places will be at:

• Cumnock Town Hall
• Netherthird Community Centre
• New Cumnock Town Hall
• Ochiltree Hub 

Your poll card will tell you where to vote.

Notice of Election

An Election is to be held for the return of one Councillor for Ward 8 (Cumnock and New Cumnock).

Nomination forms can be obtained from the Election Office, East Ayrshire Council, London Road, Kilmarnock KA3 7BU.  This office is open for the issue and delivery of nomination papers on weekdays from 10am to 4pm. Anyone wishing to collect a nomination pack from the office is requested to call in advance on telephone number: 01563 576555.

Completed nomination forms must be delivered to the Returning Officer, Election Office at the above address between the hours of 10am and 4pm on any working day after the date of this notice but no later than 4pm on Friday 6 November 2026.  Anyone submitting nomination papers is requested to call the Election Office in advance on telephone number:  01563 576555 .

Voting will take place between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 10 December 2026.

Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer, 9 Wellington Square, Ayr KA7 1HL by 12 Midnight on Monday 23 November 2026. 

Applications can be made online at UK Government: Register to vote.

Postal or Proxy Voting

Any elector may apply for a postal or proxy vote at this election.

Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes must reach the Electoral Registration Officer, 9 Wellington Square, Ayr KA7 1HL by 5pm on Tuesday 24 November 2026.

Applications to vote by proxy for this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer, 9 Wellington Square, Ayr KA7 1HL by 5pm on  Wednesday 2 December 2026.

Applications to amend or cancel existing proxy arrangements must reach the Electoral Registration Officer, 9 Wellington Square, Ayr  KA7 1HL by 5pm on Tuesday 24 November 2026.

Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election on the grounds of a medical emergency that will prevent a voter from going to the polling station or for work/service reasons must reach the Electoral Registration Officer, 9 Wellington Square, Ayr  KA7 1HL by 5pm on Thursday 10 December 2026.

The medical emergency must have occurred after 5pm on Wednesday 2 December 2026, of if the medical emergency occurred before 5pm on Wednesday 2 December 2026, the person could not reasonably be expected to apply by 5pm on Wednesday 2 December 2026. 

To apply on the grounds of work/service, the person must have become aware that they cannot go to the polling station in person after 5pm on Wednesday 2 December 2026.

For advice on postal or proxy voting, contact the Electoral Registration Officer, 9 Wellington Square, Ayr  KA7 1HL; telephone number: 01292 612221.

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Joseph McLachlan, Returning Officer

Election Office
East Ayrshire Council
London Road
Kilmarnock
KA3 7BU

Telephone number:  01563 576555

E-mail:  electionoffice@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

 

21 October 2026 

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Electoral register

The electoral register is updated every month through rolling registration, and registration is now done individually.

If you've moved house or have been missed from the register, you can update your details quicker, and also register to vote online at GOV.UK.

Where to check the Register of Electors

You can view the local register:

• at your local library
• at Council Headquarters, London Road, Kilmarnock
• by contacting the Ayrshire Valuation Joint Board's Electoral Registration Office

Once you have registered you can choose to vote by proxy or by post.

Proxy votes

A proxy vote can be granted to anyone who satisfies the local registration officer that he or she cannot reasonably be expected to vote in person on polling day.

Examples include people who:

• are on holiday
• are ill or in hospital
• away on business
• have moved house but have not had time to register at their new address and are still on the register at their old address

A proxy can also vote by post if preferred.

Postal votes

You can apply for a postal vote permanently or as a one-off in advance of any election.

The video below explains what happens to your postal vote after you send it.

Elections and voting - postal votes video

Who can register to vote

To be registered to vote you must be:

• a resident or deemed resident in the registration area
• a British, Irish, Commonwealth, European Union citizen or foreign national
• aged 14 or over
• not subject to any legal incapacity

How to register to vote

You can register to vote online at GOV.UK.

You can also contact the Ayrshire Valuation Joint Board's Electoral Registration Office. They can take your details by phone and complete the registration for you.

When you can vote

You can vote in:

• Scottish Parliament and local government elections from 16 years old
• UK Parliamentary (Westminster) elections from 18 years old if you are a British or Commonwealth citizen

If you are not a British or Commonwealth citizen, you cannot vote in UK Parliamentary elections.

Voter registration and voting forms

You can download forms for:

• voter registration
• postal voting
• proxy voting

Visit Ayrshire Valuation Joint Board: Download forms

Please print, complete, and return them to the Ayrshire Valuation Joint Board.

Annual electoral canvass

The annual electoral canvass is a legal requirement that takes place every year from July to November.

If you are already registered to vote, you must respond to the emails or letters we send each year to confirm whether the details for your household have changed. If you do not respond, you may be removed from the electoral register.

If you are not yet registered to vote at your permanent address, you must still reply to the annual canvass communication as well as applying to register to vote.

For more information on the Annual Electoral Canvass 2025 please visit Ayrshire Valuation Joint Board : Annual Electoral Canvass.

Current political composition and past election results

View the current political make up of the Council and past Council election results.