Calls for West Sussex's local elections to be delayed again
The county is due to go to the polls in May
Political figures in West Sussex are calling on the Government to make a firm decision on whether local elections will go ahead as planned in May.
Voters should be going to the polls on May 6th to choose not only their county councillors but also a Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner.
On top of that, by-elections are due to be held in Mid Sussex and Arun, while Crawley Borough Council, Worthing Borough Council and Adur District Council all have local elections which were postponed last year.
The word from Parliament, though, has not been definitive, with some saying the elections will go ahead while others say they will be delayed again.
West Sussex County Council leader Paul Marshall said:
“Local democracy is a vital part of our society and it’s imperative that it is able to take place.
“However we are living through unprecedented times and, as a country, are taking actions we never believed we would need to take.
“As such I recognise how difficult it is to get the balance right between keeping our residents safe and doing everything we can to beat this virus and making sure the democratic process is protected.
“We continue to talk to the government about what plans could be put in place on this issue.
“The most important thing is the government makes an early decision so that plans can be put in place.”
The overall feeling is that the elections should be delayed again.
A spokesman for the Police and Crime Commissioner predicted they would be put back to October.
Crawley leader Peter Lamb added that it would be ‘irresponsible’ for the elections to go ahead.
Mr Lamb said he felt that it would only be safe for people to vote by post – and that the decision to do things that way should have been taken in the autumn.
He added:
“As things stand, there is no way for any candidate to run for election without breaking lockdown rules to get the signatures they need to get on the ballot.
“There could be no campaigning, meaning voters don’t get to question their candidates, and new councillors won’t have had the chance to find out what really matters to the people of their area.
“Worse, it will be mathematically impossible to ensure everyone who wants to vote is able to cast their ballot.”
While Adur and Worthing are preparing for thousands to head for the ballot boxes in May, a spokesman said the councils were speaking with the Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government ‘on a range of issues.’.
A report from the Local Government Information Unit shows that, in a recent survey of senior council officers, two-thirds of the 244 authorities who responded were worried about holding elections in May, with most believing they should be held in the autumn.
Jonathan Carr-West, the think-tank’s chief executive, said:
“Local government is committed to democracy, but the overwhelming view from councils is that it is no longer possible to hold safe and open elections in May.
“The logistical challenges are formidable and there’s a real risk that we effectively disenfranchise millions of people who do not feel safe going to the polls.”