22/03/2021 - Permalink

Important information about this year’s local elections

Related topics: Democracy

On Thursday 6 May 2021 elections will be held for Shropshire Council, for Shropshire’s town councils, parish councils, and for the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

Polling stations for all three elections will be open between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 6 May for those who wish to vote in person.

In the Shropshire Council area, votes will be verified on the evening of Thursday 6 May, into the morning of Friday 7 May.

Votes will be counted as follows:

  • Friday 7 May – counting of Shropshire Council votes
  • Saturday 8 May – counting of Shropshire Council votes
  • Sunday 9 May – counting of town council and parish council votes
  • Monday 10 May – counting of PCC votes

There’s information about the elections  in Shropshire on the Shropshire Council website – click here. Below is a summary of the key things that you might like to know.

Registering to vote

To vote you must register to vote by 19 April. To register go to http://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. It’ll only take five minutes.

Thinking of standing?

If you’re interested in standing as a candidate, please visit our website for more information.

Poll cards

From 22 March poll cards are due to be sent to everyone in the Shropshire Council area who is already registered to vote.

Casting your vote

Voters have a range of options for casting their ballot – in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote. To vote by post or proxy  you must apply in advance. You can find out more here.

For those who choose to vote in person, polling stations will be safe places to vote on 6 May with social distancing measures and other safety measures in place, and people are being asked to bring their own pen or pencil.

Candidates

Details of candidates in the elections will be posted on the Shropshire Council website on 9 April, after nominations close on 8 April.

List of polling stations

A list of polling stations in the Shropshire Council area, will be published on the councjil website soon. You can also check your poll card for details of your polling station. Note that the following polling stations have changed since the last election.

  • Hope Church Centre – polling station will be at Emmanuel Church
  • Belvidere Primary School – polling station will be at Abbots Wood Day Centre
  • Millington Close – polling station will be at Baschurch Village Hall
  • Stoke-on-Tern Parish Hall– polling station will be at St Peter’s Church

Key dates

  • 15 March 2021: Publication of notice of election (local elections)
  • 22 March 2021: Publication of Notice of Election (PCC)
  • 8 April 2021: Close of nominations
  • No later than 4pm on 9 April 2021: statement of persons nominated (candidates) published
  • 19 April 2021 (midnight): Deadline for registration to vote
  • 20 April 2021 (5pm): Deadline for postal voting applications
  • 27 April (5pm): Deadline to apply for a proxy vote.
  • 6 May 2021: Election Day

The voting system

Voting in the Shropshire Council and the town council and parish council elections uses the first past the post system where you vote for one candidate.

Voting in the PCC election uses the Supplementary Vote system. You make a first and (if you wish) second choice when you vote. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the first choice votes, all except the top two candidates are eliminated.

The below video also outlines how the supplementary vote system works: