Preparations underway for 2021 local elections

Work is underway to ensure that the local elections in May 2021 can run smoothly and proceed as usual despite the coronavirus pandemic.

In May, voters will have the chance to go to the polls for Devon County Council elections, Police and Crime Commissioner elections and for one third of Exeter City Council, as well as various by-elections across the rest of Devon that have not been held this year due to the pandemic.

The government has confirmed that there will be no further legislation coming forward in the upcoming months around elections, which rules out all postal voting, changes to polling hours and allowing by-elections or referendums to take place before May 6 2021.

At last Thursday's full Devon County Council meeting, Cllr John Hart, leader of the council, was asked to report on the options for all eligible electors to vote in 2021, and whether an all-postal vote system could be an option.

Cllr Hart said: "The government is not minded to carry out an all postal vote and I don't believe in all-postal vote. People are welcome to a postal vote but it shouldn't be mandatory.

"There may be a need to reduce polling stations and monitoring to reduce the numbers inside them, but it is six months away and we have no idea what the situation will be in the first week of May, but we should plan for all eventualities."

He added: "The government are, however, considering a potential smaller change to legislation to support electors with absent voting, an update on which should be provided in due course, as well as considering other ways of ensuring voter participation which includes a digital application process for postal and proxy voting.

"The government has, however, confirmed it will be considering secondary legislation to make COVID-19 related restrictions, such as quarantining and self-isolation, an eligibility for emergency proxy voting, as is already the case in Scotland.

"Currently the government are issuing resources for Local Authorities to use to help voters understand their voting options for the May 2021 polls. With the relevant measures in place, polling stations will be safe places to vote, but voters will also need to be made aware of their absent voting options including what they need to do to apply for an absent vote in time for the polls.

"Due to the changing nature of the impact and response to coronavirus nationally and locally, it will be important that communication plans are flexible and can be adapted to respond to changing circumstances throughout the period leading up to the polls."

Cllr Rob Hannaford, leader of the Labour group, who had asked for the report on voting options, said: "As always, the elections in May are very important and an opportunity for local people to make their voices heard on who represents them on the issues which affect day-to-day life across Devon.

"While there are still a few months away it's important to start thinking about and planning those elections now, so that however people choose to cast their votes they can do it safely. I understand that individual councils will be putting arrangements into place to help residents stay safe at the polling station and I assume that local people can expect many of the measures they've become accustomed to in shops over recent months, like hand sanitiser, floor markings and face masks, for example.

"I sincerely hope that we will not lose any polling stations, as its essential that people can vote conveniently. However I'd also like remind all Devon residents they have the option to apply to vote by post or by proxy as a matter of choice.

"While none of us know exactly what the position will be in May next year, it's important people start to think about the options that are open to them now, rather than leave it until the absent vote deadline."

Cllr Alan Connett, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, added that people should have the right to go to a polling station, but asked the county council to make representations to government to potentially reduce the number of signatures that any potential candidate needs to get.

Currently, 10 physical signatures are needed on the nomination form, which means you have to interact in person with them, and Cllr Connett said that a reduction to five may be a sensible compromise to make.