Why do some people in Stourbridge have two votes in this election?
Why do some people in Stourbridge have two votes in this election?
Chris Bramall writes:
When people talk to me about the 2012 local elections, one of the most commonly raised issues is why some people have two votes. Since many people are confused by this, I've tried to set out some "questions and answers".
Q. Why do some people in Stourbridge have two votes in this election?
Chris Bramall writes:
When people talk to me about the 2012 local elections, one of the most commonly raised issues is why some people have two votes. Since many people are confused by this, I've tried to set out some "questions and answers".
Q. Why do we have three councillors but normally only one vote?
A: If you live in Dudley Borough, your local area (or "ward") has three councillors. Each year, one of your three councillors has to resign or seek re-election. So normally you have one vote, because you are electing just one councillor.
Q: Why do people in Wollaston & Stourbridge Town ward have two votes at this election?
A: If you live in Wollaston & Stourbridge Town ward you will have two votes at this election (3rd May 2012), because you are electing two councillors. This is because Councillor Margaret Cowell died, creating an extra vacancy.
Q: If I live in Wollaston & Stourbridge Town ward, do I have to vote for two candidates of the same party?
A: No. You can decide to vote for just one candidate. Or you can decide to vote for two candidates of different parties. Of course, as a Liberal Democrat I would invite you to vote for the two Liberal Democrat candidates (June Collins and myself)!
Q: If I live in Wollaston & Stourbridge Town ward, how am I supposed to mark the ballot paper?
A: You simply put an X by the name of each of your two preferred candidates. So you put two Xs. (Unless, of course, you decide to vote for just one candidate.)
Q: What if I live in Norton ward, where Councillor Angus Adams has died?
A: In Norton Ward you will only have one vote at this election (3rd May 2012), because you are only electing one councillor. Councillor Angus Adams died when preparations for the election were already in progress. The election in Norton ward will be as normal, and Norton residents will have one vote, to elect just one councillor.
Q: What about the vacancy in Norton Ward left by Councillor Adams's death?
A: There will be a by-election later in the year to fill Councillor Adams's place.
Why do we have three councillors but normally only one vote?
A: If you live in Dudley Borough, your local area (or "ward") has three councillors. Each year, one of your three councillors has to resign or seek re-election. So normally you have one vote, because you are electing just one councillor.
Q: Why do people in Wollaston & Stourbridge Town ward have two votes at this election?
A: If you live in Wollaston & Stourbridge Town ward you will have two votes at this election (3rd May 2012), because you are electing two councillors. This is because Councillor Margaret Cowell died, creating an extra vacancy.
Q: If I live in Wollaston & Stourbridge Town ward, do I have to vote for two candidates of the same party?
A: No. You can decide to vote for just one candidate. Or you can decide to vote for two candidates of different parties. Of course, as a Liberal Democrat I would invite you to vote for the two Liberal Democrat candidates (June Collins and myself)!
Q: If I live in Wollaston & Stourbridge Town ward, how am I supposed to mark the ballot paper?
A: You simply put an X by the name of each of your two preferred candidates. So you put two Xs. (Unless, of course, you decide to vote for just one candidate.)
Q: What if I live in Norton ward, where Councillor Angus Adams has died?
A: In Norton Ward you will only have one vote at this election (3rd May 2012), because you are only electing one councillor. Councillor Angus Adams died when preparations for the election were already in progress. The election in Norton ward will be as normal, and Norton residents will have one vote, to elect just one councillor.
Q: What about the vacancy in Norton Ward left by Councillor Adams's death?
A: There will be a by-election later in the year to fill Councillor Adams's place.