Election change voted in by councillors
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By Hayley Robinson
The way residents vote for Swale borough councillors is set
to change.
The council usually holds it elections by thirds meaning a
third of the borough's councillors are elected every three out
of four years.
But from May 2011 whole elections will operate in the
borough meaning residents will elect every councillor at the
same time on a common date.
The council, following public consultation, voted to change the
electoral arrangements during the extraordinary council meeting
held at Swale House last night (Thursday).
It means those councillors who are elected in May this year will
have to stand again next year at the same time as all other borough
councillors.
Andrew Bowles, the leader of the council, said: "We hope that
residents will seize the opportunity that the new voting system
will give them and will use their right to vote.
"The new system should make it much clearer for residents to
identify who their elected representative is, and councillors will
now be able to concentrate on council business safe in the
knowledge that they are all elected for a four-year term."
The advantages of whole council elections are that they offer
more stability. In particular, it offers whichever party wins the
majority of seats on the Council a clear, four-year term in which
to see through their manifesto, and allows voters much more
opportunity to change the overall political control of a council,
as all councillors stand for election at the same time.
It also removes the annual pause when every spring the political
business of the council slows down while the electoral process
takes place.
Evidence from organisations such as the Electoral Commission
shows that voter turnout is higher in areas that conduct whole
council elections. There is also evidence that the elections by
thirds system is confusing to voters.
There is still time to register to vote in this year's borough
council elections.
The last day to register to vote in the Borough Council
elections is April 20 - 5pm that day is also the deadline to
register to apply for a postal vote in the elections or to change
or cancel an existing absent vote arrangement.
The deadline for having a proxy vote (except for medical
emergencies) in this year's borough council elections is April 27
2010.
Friday, March 19 2010
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