Boston Borough Elections – 6th May 2021
The full list of candidates who have put their names forward for an electoral division in Boston for the Lincolnshire County Council election on May 6 is available here
The notice of election agents can be found here
The full list of candidates who have put their names forward for the Skirbeck Ward Borough by-election is available here
The notice of election agents can be found here
The full list of candidates for the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner election is available here
The notice of election agents can be found here
All elections that were scheduled to be held on 7 May 2020 were postponed by the Government as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Local Government and Police and Crime Commissioner (Coronavirus) Postponement of Elections and Referendums) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 postponed all elections and by-elections until 6 May 2021.
2021 Elections
Elections for the postponed Police and Crime Commissioner and the scheduled Lincolnshire County Council elections are due to take place on Thursday 6 May 2021. In addition a by-election for the Skirbeck Ward of Boston Borough Council will be held.
We are putting arrangements in place to help ensure polling stations are safe places to vote. You can expect many of the measures you’ve become used to over recent months in shops and banks, such as hand sanitiser, social distancing markings and face coverings.
We will continue to take advice from public health authorities as we prepare for the elections to make sure we are following the most up to date guidance. We will continue to update this page as more information and guidance becomes available.
Further information can also be found on the website of the Electoral Commission at: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter.
Lincolnshire County Council Elections
Six County Council seats are within the Boston Borough Council administrative area. One councillor will be elected for each electoral division and each councillor is elected to serve a four year term.
Details of the areas and boundaries of the electoral divisions can be viewed at www.election-maps.co.uk
Information for Candidates
Briefing sessions for prospective candidates and agents
We will be holding a remote briefing session for anyone interested in standing as a candidate at the County Council elections and their agents.
The briefing session will be held on Tuesday 16 March 2021 at 5.30 p.m. remotely via Zoom. The link to join the briefing session is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88423299812?pwd=Rm5pb1g1VVV6VGZYTHRHYlF5QTNJUT09.
If you want to find out more information, please contact Lorraine Bush, Democratic Services Manager on 01205 314224, or email lorraine.bush@boston.gov.uk
The briefing event will cover the nomination process, outline the election timetable as well as matters relating to voting, campaigning and count arrangements.
Nomination Papers
Information/Nomination packs for candidates will be available mid March. A printed nomination pack can be requested from Electoral Services at Boston Borough Council by contacting 01205 314220 / 314221 or by e-mailing elreg@boston.gov.uk
Copies can be downloaded from the Electoral Commission http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent/local-elections-england
For local government elections being held in 2021, the number of persons required to subscribe a nomination paper has been reduced from 10 to 2.
Nomination papers for the County Council elections must be subscribed by a proposer, seconder who must be registered local government electors within the electoral division where the candidate is standing for election.
The period for delivery of nomination papers for all elections taking place on 6 May is from Tuesday 23 March until 4pm on Thursday 8 April 2021. Completed nomination papers MUST BE DELIVERED BY HAND to the office of the Deputy Returning Officer, Municipal Buildings, West Street, Boston PE21 8QR. Nomination papers received by post cannot be accepted and will be invalid.
Candidates and agents are requested to make an appointment for the delivery of nomination papers by contacting the Lorraine Bush on 01205 314224, email lorraine.bush@boston.gov.uk. Please ensure you book an appointment early.
To protect candidates, agents and staff during the current pandemic we will be limiting the number of people present in the customer services area at any time. Unfortunately anyone arriving without an appointment may have to wait outside until any pre-booked appointments have been dealt with.
Guidance for candidates
Candidates wishing to stand for election can refer to the Electoral Commission’s website https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent/local-elections-england for guidance on becoming a candidate.
Qualifications for standing as a candidate
To qualify as a candidate a person must be 18 years of age and a Commonwealth citizen, citizen of Republic of Ireland or a citizen of a *Member State of the European Union and either:
- be registered as a local government elector within the County of Lincolnshire; or
- have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises during the whole of the previous 12 months within the County; or
- his/her principal or only place of work during the whole of the previous 12 months has been within the County; or
- have resided in the County for the whole of the previous 12 months.
*EU citizens remain entitled to stand as candidates and vote at local government elections even though the UK has withdrawn from the EU.
Police and Crime Commissioner Elections
For each police force area, one council will act as the lead authority dealing with the nomination of candidates and co-ordinating and declaring the results.
For Lincolnshire the Police and Crime Commissioner election is co-ordinated by the Police Area Returning Officer of City of Lincoln Council. For further information visit the City of Lincoln website.
Information can also be found on the Electoral Commission website
Supplementary Voting System
The elections for the Police and Crime Commissioner uses the Supplementary Voting System. This is the system used in Mayoral elections.
Voting will be by way of a simple majority system unless there are three or more candidates. If there are three or more candidates then the Commissioner will be elected under the supplementary vote system.
Under the supplementary vote system, a voter is asked to indicate first and second preferences. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the first preference votes, the two candidates with the highest number of first preference votes go forward to the second round.
In the second round of counting, ballots indicating a first preference for a candidate that lost the first round are reallocated according to the second preference indicated in the ballot paper.
Contact our elections team on 01205 314220 / 314221 or email elreg@boston.gov.uk for further help or guidance.
Borough Council By Election
A by-election for the Skirbeck Ward of the Borough Council will also be held on 6 May 2021, alongside the County Council and Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
The arrangements for the nomination process will be as that for the Lincolnshire County Council elections. The period for submitting nomination papers will be from Tuesday 23 March to 4 p.m. on Thursday 8 April 20201. Nomination papers must be delivered by hand to the office of the Returning Officer, Municipal Buildings, West Street, Boston PE21 8QR.
Nomination papers received by post cannot be accepted and will be invalid.
Candidates and agents are requested to make an appointment for the delivery of nomination papers by contacting the Lorraine Bush on 01205 314224, email lorraine.bush@boston.gov.uk. Please ensure you book an appointment early.
To protect candidates, agents and staff during the current pandemic we will be limiting the number of people present in the customer services area at any time. Unfortunately anyone arriving without an appointment may have to wait outside until any pre-booked appointments have been dealt with.
Polling Station Changes
For the elections being held on 6 May 2021, a number of the polling station locations have been changed due to covid-19 restrictions. Please check your poll card when you receive it to confirm the location of your allocated polling station or contact the Electoral Services Team on elreg@boston.gov.uk Tel: 01205 314220 / 314221
Voter Information – Registering and Postal and Proxy Voting
Register to Vote
If you are unsure if you are registered to vote, contact our Electoral Services team on 01205 314220 / 314221 or email elreg@boston.gov.uk
If you haven’t already registered, you can register to vote online. The deadline to register for the May elections is Monday 19 April 2021.
Poll cards will be delivered to all registered electors from 26 March 2021.
Postal and Proxy Voting
If you are unable to vote at your polling station on polling day you can choose to apply to vote by post or by proxy (appointing someone else to vote at the polling station for you).
The deadline to applying for a postal vote or to change/cancel an existing postal or proxy appointment is 5pm on Tuesday 20 April 2021.
The deadline for applying for a proxy vote is 5pm on 27 Tuesday April 2021.
Application forms can be downloaded from https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/how-cast-your-vote. You do not need to wait until you receive your poll card to apply – if you would prefer to vote by post at these elections, you can apply at any time.
How to submit a postal or proxy application
Postal and proxy vote applications cannot be completed online and must signed and returned to the Electoral Registration Officer, Boston Borough Council, Municipal Buildings, West Street, Boston PE21 8QR be received by the deadlines above to be effective for the May elections. Signed copies can also be sent by email to elreg@boston.gov.uk.
If you can’t or don’t want to vote at your polling station on polling day, make sure you get your application to us as early as possible.
Despatch of Postal Ballot Papers
If you apply for a postal vote, your postal vote will be sent out on the following dates:
If we have received and accepted your postal vote application by 29 March, your postal vote will be despatched 21/22 April;
If we receive your application after 9 April and before the deadline of 5pm on 20 April, your postal vote pack will be despatched 26 April 2021.