The 2021 local elections will go ahead as planned, the government has confirmed.

Doubts had been raised about whether it was possible to hold the ballots during the coronavirus pandemic, but this morning it has been announced that council, mayoral, and Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections will take place on May 6.

The government have said that the public health response to COVID-19, not least the vaccination programme, means that they can commit to go ahead with the polls with confidence.

They are currently working with the Electoral Commission to ensure that we are setting out clearly how social distancing and other rules apply specifically to all aspects of the polls, and they will maintain the choice for voters between in person and absent voting (using a postal or proxy vote).

WHAT ELECTIONS WILL GO AHEAD?

As well as the delayed local elections in Exeter and Plymouth, and the PCC elections, the regularly scheduled 2021 Devon County Council elections will take place, as well as a series of delayed by-elections, and Neighbourhood Plan referendums.

The entirety of the 60-strong Devon County Council will be up for re-election, with 56 single-member electoral divisions and two two-member divisions.

The current composition of the council consists of 42 Conservatives, 7 Labour, 6 Liberal Democrats, 2 Independents, 1 Green Party, 1 East Devon Alliance and 1 North Devon Liberal.

All elected councillors will serve their usual four year term upon their election.

For the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner election, the incumbent Alison Hernandez has already been re-selected as the Conservative candidate to continue in her post.

The elected Police and Crime Commissioner for the region would normally serve a four-year term, but will instead only serve a three year term to ensure the return to the usual electoral cycle.