May 5 is set to be a pivotal day for the future of St Helens borough.
Despite Liverpool elections not going ahead this year, candidates will on that day stand for election in local councils across the region -including St Helens. This year's elections bring in many changes in the way people will vote, and where they will do it.
Following a review by the independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England of St Helens' ward boundaries, residents may find they are voting in a different ward, at a different polling station and for a different number of councillors this time. After public consultation, the boundaries of several wards have been altered in a bid to ensure councillors equally represent about the same number of people per ward.
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For the first time elections will be held for all 48 seats on the council at the same time – and every four years afterwards – meaning voters will elect all councillors for their ward at once, rather than in thirds as before. Because of these changes, St Helens council say a review of polling districts, polling places and polling stations had to be undertaken – also subject to public consultation – to ensure that all voters have fair and reasonable access to in-person voting facilities.
A spokesperson for St Helens Borough Council said: "The move to whole council elections, the review of polling districts and stations, changes to ward boundaries and the creation of two new wards mean that voters must not be on autopilot and need to be aware of these changes for the Local Elections, and pay very close attention to the information on their poll cards."
With elections taking place once every four years now, residents are encouraged to take this opportunity to vote. Register before midnight on Thursday, April 14 by clicking here. Check the list of nominations for each ward online here under ‘Election Notices’.
Enter your postcode here to find your nearest polling station. Voting by post can be a very convenient way to vote and means you won’t have to worry about possible changes to your polling station. If you are registered to vote, you can apply to vote by post by submitting an application form to the Electoral Registration Officer at St Helens Town Hall, Victoria Square, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1HP by 5pm on Tuesday 19 April. Get a form here.
