Dorset Council have issued reassurance that their local elections will go ahead in May.
The elections, which include Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, as well as several town/parish council by-elections are due to take place on May 6th, but with continued restrictions being placed on the whole of England, residents had feared that the elections would be called off.
Residents who do want to vote, will be able to via the usual means of in-person voting, postal voting or voting by proxy, with very little disruption to how things would usually run outside of a pandemic.
Corporate Director, Legal & Democratic at Dorset Council, Jonathan Mair, said:
“We’re thinking about these elections now so that, however you choose to cast your vote, you can do so safely.
“We’re putting arrangements in place to help you stay safe at the polling station; you can expect many of the measures you’ve become used to in shops and banks over recent months, such as hand sanitiser, floor markings and face masks. But you also have the option to apply to vote by post or by proxy.
“Legislation is in place for the elections to go ahead this May, and we will continue to work closely with the Electoral Commission to ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely, in a way that suits them. This is being kept under review and any changes will be publicised.”
The Council has not commented on whether there will be a push towards postal voting in this election as has been seen in other elections happening around the world.
