Have your say, voters are urged in Plymouth city council election

PLYMOUTH voters head to the polls tomorrow with the City Council urging everyone to make sure they have their say.

All eligible voters will have been sent a polling card telling them where they should go to cast their vote.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm. Staff will be on hand all day to help voters with any questions about filling out their ballot paper.

There are 20 wards in Plymouth, but with Plympton Erle only having two representatives it is the fallow year for that ward, so no elections will take place there. All other wards will see elections.

Tracey Lee, Returning Officer for Plymouth City Council, said: “Make sure you check the information on your poll card, as your polling station might have changed since the last election. If you have mislaid it, you can check your polling station online. You do not need your poll card to vote.

“People who have opted to vote by post must return their postal ballot pack by 10pm; they can hand it in at their polling station if they don’t have time to return it by post.” Measures will be in place to make sure polling stations are Covid-safe, including protective screens and hand sanitiser. Those voting in person are being asked to help keep themselves and others safe by wearing a face covering if they can. Pens will be cleaned regularly but voters may take their own if they prefer.

Those who are self-isolating or become unwell as a result of Covid-19 do not need to lose their vote. Voters have up to 5pm on polling day to apply for an emergency proxy vote, which allows them to nominate someone they trust to vote on their behalf. This can be done online, by calling 01752 668000, or by emailing the city elections team at the earliest opportunity.

The Conservative Party and Labour Party are the only political parties to field candidates in all 19 wards. The Liberal Democrats have 13 candidates, there are 15 Green Party candidates, 11 from the Trade Unionist and Social Coalition, two under the banner of Change for Plymouth, one for the Herit

‘Check the information on your poll card – your polling station might have changed’ TRACEY LEE, RETURNING OFFICER

age Party – Pro-freedom, Pro-family, Pro-life, and seven listed as Independents.

The current composition of Plymouth City Council is Conservatives (22), Labour (23) and Independents (12) – but the council is run under a minority leadership by the Tories. Of the 19 seats available, Labour are defending ten, with the Conservatives five, and Independents four. It means that going into the elections tomorrow, the Conservatives will start on 17 councillors with Labour on 13, and eight Independents.

With 57 members of the council, 29 are needed for an overall majority. To achieve this, the Conservatives would need to win 12 of the 19 seats, while Labour need 16. If neither party gets to 29, then they would rely on the support of the Independents at the annual council meeting, where the leader would be elected.