Register to vote in the Scottish Parliament Elections by 20th April. Its quick and easy. The Electoral Commission.

Residents are being reminded to ensure they are registered to vote in the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections as the deadline for postal voting approaches. Residents are being reminded to ensure they are registered to vote in the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections as the deadline for postal voting approaches.

On Thursday 7 May, residents will get the opportunity to have their say on which candidates they want to represent them in Holyrood.

The Scottish Parliament has powers to make laws for Scotland on a range of important issues including local government, transport, education, environment, health, police and fire services.

Residents have until midnight on Monday 20 April to register to vote.

In addition, residents planning to use a postal vote must be registered and have submitted an application to the Electoral Registration Office for postal vote by 5pm on Tuesday 21 April. Applications to vote by proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Office by 5pm on Tuesday 28 April.

First-time voters and people who have moved house recently are among those who may not yet be included in the electoral register.

Any resident not registered ahead of the deadline will not be able to vote in this election.

Registration is a simple process and it only takes a few minutes to complete the forms online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

If you are registered to vote and wish to apply for a postal or proxy vote, you must submit an application to your local Electoral Registration Office at Dunbartonshire and Argyll & Bute Valuation Joint Board, 235 Dumbarton Road, Clydebank, G81 4XJ. Applications can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-postal-vote. Applications for postal and proxy votes for Scottish elections must be made on paper application forms which must be delivered to the Electoral Registration Office. You may also scan and email your completed application to >ero-wdc@dab-vjb.gov.uk

To vote in Scottish Parliament elections you must be registered to vote at an address in Scotland, be 16 or over on the day of the election and not be legally excluded from voting.

Sophie Traynor for Dumbarton, Helensburgh and Lomond

Great to be in Glasgow on Thursday for the SNP campaign launch – an energising start to the campaign alongside a fantastic group of fellow candidates. I’m proud to be standing, and ready to work hard for the people of the Dumbarton Constituency. I’ll always stand up for our community, our priorities, and our future. Let’s get to work.

Meantime, I’m proud to share that I’ve officially submitted my nomination papers to stand for election to the Scottish Parliament as the SNP candidate for the Dumbarton Constituency.

This campaign is about listening, working hard, and delivering for everyone who calls this area home.

Over the coming weeks, I look forward to speaking with as many of you as possible about the issues that matter most – our public services, local opportunities, and Scotland’s future. Sophie Traynor

Gary Mulvaney for the Scottish Conservatives in Dumbarton constituency

Gary Mulvaney, Councillor for Helensburgh Central ward of Argyll & Bute Council, has been selected by the Scottish Conservatives to represent them in the Scottish Parliiament election for the Dumbarton constituency which includes Helensburgh and Lomond.

Gary Mulvaney was elected for his fifth term in 2022 and leads the nine member group of Conservatives on Argyll & Bute Council.

He is a qualified accountant, and a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. His career has covered local government, marketing, and extensive experience in the motor trade. He currently is Director, and Centre Principal, of Helensburgh Toyota, having previously been the dealership’s Financial Director.

Gary was born in 1968. His home town is Helensburgh, where he lives with his wife Janet and her daughter Sammy-Jo.

Gary is a former Westminster parliamentary candidate, having contested the seat in 2017 and 2010. In 2017, the Conservatives came within 1300 votes of taking the seat from the SNP. When he stood in the 2010 General he came second, with Liberal Democrat MP Alan Reid’s majority squeezed to just over three thousand votes.

During the 2010 campaign, the local news website ForArgyll.com said that, if elected to Westminster, Gary would be “a formidable operator“. Describing him as “A natural strategist and a clear thinker…“, the website said “…he has the added advantage of experience“. The writer continued “If it is possible to be open-minded and interested in change while not being troubled by uncertainties or indecision, this is who he is”.

Outside business and politics, Gary was Business Manager of the Glasgow-based Apollo Players theatre group and made his stage debut in 2010 at the Kings Theatre, Glasgow, and in 2012 he played in Annie at the Glasgow Pavilion theatre.

Ben Langmead

Liberal Democrat candidate for Clydebank and Milngavie

Photo of Ben Langmead smiling in a pink polo top with a hedge behind him.

I have worked in investment banking since I was 17 years old, in the UK and in New York. I was always close to politics because of my job, but it was a knock on the door form Willie Rennie that spurred me to action.

I started door-knocking and found I really enjoyed meeting people and listening to their problems and ideas for improving things. I knew then that I wanted be part of the solution. I was recently elected as a Councillor anad it is the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

I decided to stand as a candidate for Clydebank & Milngavie because I know things can be done better. Things can be changed in a fairer way for everyone. Things can be fixed without spending billions.

The application of a little common sense and hard work can move mountains.