South Hams District Council has a key role to play in elections. We are responsible for organising and conducting elections, parish polls and referenda as and when required which involves the following:-

• dealing with nomination of candidates
• producing ballot papers
• producing poll cards
• booking premises to use as polling stations
• recruitment and selection of staff to work at polling stations and to count the votes
• the issue of postal votes and letters to proxies
• counting the votes
• the upkeep of statistics

Deal with boundary reviews and implement boundary changes.

Implement new legislation within a statutory timetable.

The next scheduled elections are as follows:

Thursday 5 May 2011- District and Town/Parish elections

There will be a referendum on the voting system for United Kingdom parliamentary elections on 5 May 2011.  The question will be:-

At present, the UK uses the 'first past the post' system to elect MPs to the House of Commons.  Should the 'alternative vote' system be used instead?

For information on the referendum go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or 0800 3 280 280 from 1April 2011

By-elections

If at any time during their term of office, an MEP, MP or Councillor retires, resigns or dies, their seat becomes vacant. If this happens, a by-election may be held to fill the seat.

If you have any queries about any of our election services please contact us on 01803 861434.