It’s all change for Buckinghamshire Local Government Elections

The new Unitary Authority

On 7^th May we will have more elections in Buckinghamshire, this time for the new Unitary Authority that is replacing Bucks County Council, Aylesbury Vale District Council, and the other three District Councils in Buckinghamshire. The new unitary authority will be known as Buckinghamshire Council, it will take over all the services and responsibilities of the previous County and District Councils.

Three Candidates

The first elections to the new council will be on Thursday 7^th May. The elections will be based on the very large ward sizes used for the old County Council elections. So rather than voters in two or three villages having one vote to elect one councillor to represent them, voters across a much larger area will each have three votes and will elect three councillors. The ballot paper will simply require each voter to vote for a maximum of three candidates and will not ask for an order of preference. This will still be a 'first past the post' system, or more accurately ' first three past the post'.

The early May Bank Holiday Friday 8th May to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

The election day on Thursday 7^th May is immediately followed by the early May Bank Holiday on Friday 8^th May, which was moved from Monday 4th May to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, so be aware if you are planning to take holidays that week.
If you know you are likely not going to make it to the polling station, then please consider applying for a postal vote and tell your friends to do the same!

Postal Votes

You can choose to vote by post, but must apply for a postal vote well in advance by downloading the relevant form here:

https://democracy.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/documents/s10080/PostalVoteapplication.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/711954/Apply-to-vote-by-post-England-Scotland-and-Wales__1_.pdf

It must be physically signed in pen and either the physical document sent by post or scanned and a pdf emailed to:

Aylesbury Vale District Council
Electoral Registration Officer
The Gateway
Gatehouse Road
Aylesbury
HP19 8FF

Email: absentvotes@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk

Phone: 01296 585701