Paulton postponed election date set Nominations need to be in by May 25

By John Wimperis - Local Democracy Reporter 15th May 2023

Local News by John Wimperis - Local Democracy Reporter 15th May 2023

The rescheduled local election following the death of a Green Party candidate in Paulton will take place on Thursday, June 22.

The ward will be electing two councillors to Bath and North East Somerset Council.

The rest of the council area went to the polls last week but the election in the Paulton ward was suspended after Green Party candidate Tim Morgan passed away suddenly a few days before the election.

Sam Ross, the chair of the council area's Green Party branch, said: "Tim was an active campaigner and candidate for the party over the years and his warm smile and kind nature will be missed by those who were fortunate enough to have known him."

Voters who live in the area have until June 6 to register to vote and until 5pm on June 14 to sign up for a Voter Authority Certificate if they do not have a valid ID to show at the polling station, which is now a requirement.

Applications to vote by post must reach Bath and North East Somerset Council's Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on June 7.

Nomination papers for people wishing to stand will need to be delivered to the council's Returning Officer by 4pm on May 25.

When the rest of the council voted last week, the Liberal Democrats won 41 of the 59 seats on the council, making them the first party to win two consecutive terms running the council.

Labour and the Independents both won five seats, with Labour becoming the new official opposition. But the previous Conservative opposition were "wiped out," going from having ten seats to three.

The Greens, meanwhile, went from having one councillor who joined them through a defection to also having three elected councillors.

You can register to vote here, if you are not already registered until June 6: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

If you do not have a photo ID you can show at the polling station, you can sign up for a Voter Authority Certificate here until 5pm on June 14: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

New poll cards will be sent to all voters in Paulton with details of their polling station.