Councillors seeking re-election were not the only ones whose performances were being scrutinised - polling took place on the same day auditions for talent show guru Simon Cowell's X Factor were being held in Inverness.

BBC: Independents dominate in Highlands and Islands

The ballot paper in a by-election is like at a general election, with voters putting a X in the box next to the name of the candidate they want to vote for.

BBC: How the PCC elections work

The most important determinant of that question may lie with the X-factor in this year's election returns: How will Democrats who successfully ran in what have traditionally been relatively conservative Republican districts conduct themselves?

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: What now?