A by-election for the West Devon Borough Council ward of Tavistock North is to be held next month after a Councillor has stepped down from the role only days after his election. Due to personal circumstances, Terry Wheeler has resigned from his position as one of the three new Borough Councillors for the Tavistock North Ward.
A by-election to decide Mr Wheeler’s replacement will be held on June 22. Mr Wheeler, representing the Green Party, was one of the three successful candidates in Tavistock North in the local elections held on May 4.
After May’s local elections, the council is currently under no overall control. The Conservatives have 11 seats, with ten Independents, four from the Green Party, and two Liberal Democrats and one from Labour making up the composition of the council, with three vacant seats.
As well as the seat vacated by Mr Wheeler, the election in the Burrator ward was postponed following the death of a candidate. Voters will go to the polls on June 15 in order to elect the two councillors to represent that seat.
Steve Mullineaux, Returning Officer for West Devon Borough Council, said: “All affected voters living in the Tavistock North Ward will receive new poll cards through the post if the election is contested. The cards will have information on polling stations and how to arrange a postal or proxy vote for those who cannot make it to their polling station on 22 June.I’d like to remind all voters that the voter ID rules will still apply in this by-election, so remember to bring along your photo ID with you to your polling station.”
Candidate nominations are now open until 4 p.m. on Thursday 25 May. Nomination papers must be hand-delivered to the Returning Officer at Kilworthy Park’s reception area between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Due to the reception only being open on Tuesdays, please make an appointment to submit nomination papers by emailing [email protected] or calling 01822 813665 or 01822 813525.
Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Kilworthy Park, Tavistock, PL19 0BZ by midnight on Tuesday 6 June, and can be completed online at www.gov.uk/registertovote or by completing a form available from the Council offices.
Applications for postal votes, or changes to existing proxy voting arrangements, must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Kilworthy Park by 5 p.m. on Wednesday 7 June.
As with the elections on 4 May, those voting in person must remember to bring a form of photo ID with them. Voters without a valid form of ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate online at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate