Polls are now open in the UK General Election for 2019; Highland voters head to polls in Skye, Ross and Lochaber; Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey; and Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituencies

VOTERS across the Highlands have begun heading to the polls in the UK's 2019 General Election.

Tens of thousands of Highlanders are heading to vote for their preferred candidate all across the region.

Polling stations in the three local Westminster constituencies opened at 7am and will close at 10pm this evening before the count takes place at Inverness Leisure Centre.

The count will be overseen by Highland Council chief executive Donna Manson and a team largely comprising at least 18 top staff whose roles range from managing the counting to communications.

Dozens of other council staff and counters will also be involved in the process.

Mrs Manson has already called on the public to take part in the election saying “your vote matters".

The official advice for those voting is to mark your vote in the General Election with a single X (cross) against your choice of candidate.

Clear instructions will be on display in every polling booth and trained polling station staff will be on hand to answer any questions.

Postal voters who have missed the post are reminded that they can hand in their General Election postal ballot papers to any of the Highland polling stations up until 10pm today.

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