Local elections
Lords postal votes criticism rejected
Civil servants have defended the postal votes system in the face of criticism from Lords.
Government postpones elections
Local government elections due to take place on 7 May have been postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Government asked to look at postponing elections over coronavirus
Fears that coronavirus could derail May’s polls have been detailed in a letter to the Government from electoral officers.
Political control of our councils matters
Paul Wheeler looks ahead to the elections expected in May and the parties' political prospects – and says that on current polling trends this set should be a good one for the Conservatives.
A tough balancing act for councils
Managing and mitigating the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on local communities poses a huge challenge for councils, but it’s one they’ve been planning for. Naomi Larsson reports.
EXCLUSIVE: Councils call for say in devo White Paper
Councils are battling to ‘jointly craft’ the devolution White Paper ahead of its publication later this year.
Winning back the public’s trust
Peter Stanyon says there are urgent lessons to learn from the 2019 elections – and challenges ahead in 2020 and beyond include the wider need for urgent reform to election law, funding and support.
Queen's speech: Voter ID requirement at elections to be rolled out
The Queen’s Speech has set out the Government’s plans to require voters to show photographic ID at polling stations.
Election and Brexit could hit peer review plans
A General Election before March would put the Local Government Association (LGA) at risk of failing to deliver the number of peer challenges demanded by Whitehall.
'Nearly everyone' showed correct ID in voter trials
An independent evaluation of voter ID trials in May has found they were a success and ‘nearly everyone’ showed the correct identification.
The basic laws of political physics
Dr Jonathan Carr-West says pressure provides a burning platform and the political vacuum an opportunity for action. But if the atmosphere remains toxic, we won’t be able to move forward at all
‘Enough is enough’
Chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) Peter Stanyon says a root and branch review of election delivery must happen, with the concerns of those on the frontline heard and understood
Counting the costs of the 'break-neck speed' EU elections
Returning officer Ian Miller writes in a personal capacity about the lessons Government and the House of Commons must learn after two major elections within three weeks - and he backs the recent Localis call for five-year terms for councillors.
Impartiality has never been more important
Louise Round says that for many in districts over the coming years, the lines - red or otherwise - may not be drawn on a party-political basis.
Sufficient polling stations are essential to democracy
Allen Graham says he is continually impressed by how Rushcliffe BC's election staff respond to immense logistical and administrative pressures.
Counting the costs of the EU Exit process
When the dust settles on the UK's departure from the European Union there will surely be a formal public inquiry into how the government has handled the process, says Ian Miller
‘A bereavement – with no funeral’
Dame Jane Roberts says that while the abrupt end of a councillor’s role may be a significant loss, there are many ways to continue making a valuable contribution to society.
What should ex-councillors do next?
John Tizard says those staring into the future after losing their council seats should take time to ‘recover and reflect’, and there will always be ways they can use their ‘experience, knowledge, networks and political antennae’
Rise of independents suggests localism is on the move
Brexit, which has split the two main parties down the middle nationally, has clearly also extended its reach down to local level. If this breaks the national stranglehold over local elections this is a promising outcome, says Michael Burton.
Gateshead e-voting trial declared a success
The tradition of dozens of volunteers gathering in town halls and leisure centres to count ballots until the crack of dawn and beyond could soon become a thing of the past.
