By-elections in rotational councils

[timrollpickering]

As I've never lived in a rotational council area I've not experienced this so can anyone explain what the rules are for by-elections in rotational councils. Specifically:

* If the seat in question isn't up at the next May elections, I assume a version of the six month rule doesn't apply?
** Is there any provision to allow the by-election to be held back for the May elections? Or can it be forced at any time, even falling in the regular campaigning period?
*** Does it make a difference if the ward in question wouldn't otherwise be voting that year?

* If there's a casual vacancy and a regular election in the same ward on the same day, are there two separate votes on different ballot papers or is it a multi-member FPTP vote with the top vote scorer getting a full term and the second the remainder of the vacated term?

[Tony Otim]

Apr 5, 2018 10:23:19 GMT timrollpickering said:

As I've never lived in a rotational council area I've not experienced this so can anyone explain what the rules are for by-elections in rotational councils. Specifically:



* If there's a casual vacancy and a regular election in the same ward on the same day, are there two separate votes on different ballot papers or is it a multi-member FPTP vote with the top vote scorer getting a full term and the second the remainder of the vacated term?

Different councils seem to do this one different ways - Reading previously and Milton Keynes this year seem to be going down the separate ballot papers route, but generally councils seem to go with multi-member FPTP.

[froome]

Apr 5, 2018 10:23:19 GMT timrollpickering said:

As I've never lived in a rotational council area I've not experienced this so can anyone explain what the rules are for by-elections in rotational councils. Specifically:

* If the seat in question isn't up at the next May elections, I assume a version of the six month rule doesn't apply?
** Is there any provision to allow the by-election to be held back for the May elections? Or can it be forced at any time, even falling in the regular campaigning period?
*** Does it make a difference if the ward in question wouldn't otherwise be voting that year?

* If there's a casual vacancy and a regular election in the same ward on the same day, are there two separate votes on different ballot papers or is it a multi-member FPTP vote with the top vote scorer getting a full term and the second the remainder of the vacated term?

From memory of when I lived in Bristol:

* AFAIK it doesn't apply.
** Not that I'm aware of, and I'm fairly sure that it can fall in the regular campaigning period.
*** I don't think so.

* I can't remember, but I think they had separate ballot papers.

[peterl]

1. It doesn't apply
2. If that seat isn't up within six months starting on the day the vacancy arises, the by election can be called by two electors at any time
3. No difference at all

As to ballot papers, often these will be combined into a double election as many contests in May will be and as you say the top scorer gets the full term and the second place candidate is deemed to have won the by election. But this is up to the returning officer as to whether to combine it or have it separately afaik. Usually they seem to as its obviously cheaper.

[timrollpickering]

I wonder then if many councillors have found to their annoyance that they get moved between classes of councillors due to a ward colleague's vacancy and coming second on the combined ballot paper.

(Not that I've much sympathy - councillors should be working the wards at all times and especially election time regardless of whether they're up or not. However I can see the annoyance if a couple on the council found they were now unable to simultaneously retire at the end of a term.)

[East Anglian Lefty]

I'm aware of a few cases where that's happened, yes.

[J.G.Harston]

Apr 5, 2018 12:27:36 GMT East Anglian Lefty said:

I'm aware of a few cases where that's happened, yes.

I can't find it at the mo, but there's a chap in Sheffield who got the two year term twice in a row. And then there's cases like me where I got elected in 2003, then again in 2004 in all-ups, then again in 2006 after getting the shortest term. Naturally, I also stood in 2005 in the General

[listener]

A good example is Bulmershe and Whitegates ward in Wokingham on 5 May 2016. Alison Swaddle (Con) was the retiring member from 2012 and there was a second vacancy, caused by the resignation of Nicky Jerrome (Lab).

In the event, Andy Croy (Lab) was top of the poll and will serve until 2020. Alison Swaddle (Con) came second and is up for re-election this year.

[East Anglian Lefty]

Apr 5, 2018 13:28:01 GMT J.G.Harston said:

Apr 5, 2018 12:27:36 GMT East Anglian Lefty said:

I'm aware of a few cases where that's happened, yes.

I can't find it at the mo, but there's a chap in Sheffield who got the two year term twice in a row. And then there's cases like me where I got elected in 2003, then again in 2004 in all-ups, then again in 2006 after getting the shortest term. Naturally, I also stood in 2005 in the General

One from my neck of the woods: Ros Scott was elected to Wivenhoe Quay at a by-election in 2014 and defended her seat in 2015. Colchester BC was rewarded for 2016 and she won the third seat in the new Wivenhoe ward, so she's up for re-election again this year. So that she didn't miss out last year, she also stood in the general election. Which means that she'll have been on the ballot in Wivenhoe every year for the past five years.

[middleenglander]

The Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell South election looks to be a normal "double" elections. Nominations on a single SOPN are 2 Conservative, 2 Labour, 2 Liberal Democrats, 1 Green, 1 UKIP