Wiltshire’s local elections to cost over £1 million
Polls open on 1st May, with votes counted on 2nd May
The local elections which will take place this year in Wiltshire are expected to cost the council over £1 million.
Although the electoral commission has not been able to confirm it at this stage, chief executive Lucy Townsend suspects Wiltshire will be hosting the biggest local elections in the country this year.
According to her, it is predicted there will be approximately 2,500 candidates for the 98 unitary seats and 308 town and parish councils across the county.
Ms Townsend, who will be acting as the returning officer, said: “Whilst other areas will have more eligible voters, it’s that kind of complexity that makes it a large election.”
In total, there will be around 1,000 staff working across 359 polling stations in Wiltshire.
When considering those who will then also be working at the count, that figure rises to 2,000 staff involved in the process.
Residents will cast their votes on Thursday, May 1, and the counts will take place the following day at County Hall in Trowbridge, The Olympiad in Chippenham, and the Five Rivers Leisure Centre in Salisbury.
The boxes will remain sealed in these venues overnight on Thursday and will be monitored by security.
Ms Townsend said: “With elections, people naturally focus on polling day and the count.
“But there is so much that happens beforehand.
“Logistically, it is a huge undertaking.”
According to the council, the cost of this year’s elections has been influenced by factors such as inflation and postal vote applications.
Ms Townsend explained: “Looking at how much the Police and Crime Commissioner election and General Election cost last year, and factoring in the differences of holding local elections, we’d expect the cost to be around £1.2m.”
The county’s last local elections were held in 2021, with Covid restrictions still in place.
Ms Townsend noted that the final electorate number was 381,454 with a 40.53 per cent turnout.
Looking ahead to this year, she stated: “We want as many people who are eligible to vote in Wiltshire to vote, because that is what democracy is about.
“It gives them the opportunity to influence decisions that are made about their local communities and things that are important to them.”
She added: “We’ve got lots of young people who have turned 18 since the last elections, who have now got the opportunity to vote, I would encourage them to take their democratic right.”
The Conservative leader of Wiltshire Council, Cllr Richard Clewer, will be watching the count in Salisbury, whilst the Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition, Cllr Ian Thorn, will be in Chippenham.