LOCAL DEMOCRACY

Making elections meaningful

We need two things from our electoral system says Dr Jonathan Carr-West – enough stability to maintain public confidence and the possibility of meaningful change. But have we got the balance quite right?

Less than a month until local elections, and excitement is rising. At least it is in LGiU (virtual) HQ, and while we may not be the most representative sample, we think this year's elections are even more interesting than usual.

Firstly, it's a massive set of elections, including all those held over from last year which creates a huge logistical challenge for councils even before you add in the need to make the elections COVID-safe. Certainly, they will be like nothing we've seen before with protective dividers in counts and disputed ballot papers displayed on screens, not to mention voters taking their own pencils to the polling stations.

Jonathan Carr-West

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