Voters in Larkhall are heading to the polls on Thursday, July 9, for a by-election to elect a new ward councillor for South Lanarkshire Council. The election follows the death in April of long-serving councillor Lesley McDonald, who served the community for over a decade.
Candidates and Voting Process
Four candidates are contesting the seat: Gary Burns (Conservatives), Fiona McDermott (Reform), Leigh Payne (SNP), and Chris Roarty (Labour). The electorate of approximately 15,000 will cast their votes using the single transferable vote system, ranking candidates in order of preference. Polls open at 7am and close at 10pm.
Counting will begin immediately after polls close at the council's headquarters on Almada Street in Hamilton, with the winner expected to be declared later that evening. The successful candidate will become one of four Larkhall representatives on South Lanarkshire Council, joining incumbents Andy Carmichael, Ross Clark, and Richard Nelson.
Tribute to Lesley McDonald
Councillor McDonald, who passed away after a short illness, was remembered as "hard-working and much-liked." She first represented Larkhall from 2007 to 2017 and returned for a second term in 2022. During her tenure, she chaired the finance and corporate resources committee and was actively involved with community organisations, including chairing local charity The Machan Trust.
The by-election marks a significant moment for Larkhall residents, who will choose their representative in a closely watched contest.
