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Will We Be Voting In Lytham St. Anne’s In May? Calls For A Postponement.

If local elections take place in May, Lytham St. Anne’s residents may wish to register now for a postal vote.  The route to registering for postal voting is shared within this article. Local and Lancashire County Council Elections, together with the election for the Police and Crime Commissioner, are all due to take place on Thursday 6 May 2021.

However, a survey by the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU), involving 374 council chief executives, democratic services officers and council leaders, has found 66% were very concerned about holding these elections in May, and a further 28% somewhat concerned. Only 1% of respondents were not at all concerned.

Their main fear, according to the LGUI poll, was preparing for an election on 6th May, 2021 only to have it postponed (86%), while worries about recruiting and training electoral workers (80%) and disenfranchising voters with Covid-19 concerns (71%) were also recorded.

Jonathan Carr-West, chief executive of the LGIU, 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.’

He continued, ‘The worst scenario of all would be for the Government to push ahead only to have to make a U-turn late in the day when councils will already have spent a fortune in money and time preparing. Better to take a bold decision now to delay the elections and use the additional time to ensure they can be run safely.’

Meanwhile, many Lytham St. Anne’s residents are already registering for a postal vote. Voting by post is an easy and convenient way of voting if you are unable to get to the polling station.

To vote by post, you’ll need to fill in an application form, which are available from the Electoral Registration Officer, Town Hall, Lytham St Anne’s, FY8 1LW. Telephone: 01253 658542/658549. Email: electoral@fylde.gov.uk

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