Three reasons to get out and vote
WE MAY BE IN THE GRIP OF A PANDEMIC – BUT HERE’S WHY THE POST URGES YOU ALL TO HAVE YOUR SAY AT THE POLLS
ALL elections are important, but perhaps none more so than the local elections, because they have a direct impact on the very place you live.
Many may have chosen to avoid general elections or European elections of the past for feeling they will have little impact, but the Nottinghamshire County Council election of councillors will dictate who represents your ward on issues from social care support and bin collections to potholes and education.
It might be relatively unknown to many, but local councils account for roughly a quarter of public spending, and your local councillor will be the first port of call for issues relating to how services in your area are funded and operate.
Today, local people will be choosing who they want to sit in each of 66 seats in Nottinghamshire County Council, representing 56 wards.
The council is currently governed by a coalition between the Conservative Party and north Nottinghamshire Independents, including the Ashfield and Mansfield Independents.
You have the power to decide what happens next, so here are three reasons why you should get to to your assigned polling station and vote.
1. It will affect the very place that you live: The county council runs schools, libraries, leisure centres, street cleaning services as well as services that support the elderly and disabled in your area.
Each individual councillor, whether representing a party or as an independent, will have a different policy which will dictate how these operate and how much many is spent on them.
These are services local people use and need, so it would be a missed
opportunity to not have your say on such things.
2. You really can change things. People power is everything. In 2017 the Mansfield and Ashfield Independents managed to take down the two most prominent political parties. Labour lost seats in the north, while the Conservatives failed to reach an overall majority by just three seats due to the independent parties.
This dramatically shifted local politics in the county, and it was local people who made this happen.
3. Not having a say means those elected may not serve you or your values.
Different candidates have differing views and opinions, and not voting means they may not represent yours.
It is clear just a couple of votes can make a difference to the overall result. The Mansfield Mayoral Election, for example, came down to just two votes.
Remember, you’re voting not just for a person, but their policies and ideas, which will have a direct impact on you and your family.
In addition, voters will aslo be selecting who oversees the county’s Police force as its Police and Crime Commissioner.
■ The polling station at Radford and Lenton Library, in Lenton Boulevard, has had to close because of a leaking roof due to rain on Tuesday night.
Electors will now be directed to the John Carroll Leisure Centre, on Denman Street Central, 600 metres away.