Local and mayoral elections to go ahead in May 2021

Local and mayoral elections will take place this year, the government has confirmed.

On Thursday 6 May 2021 the borough’s residents will go to the polls to have their say on who represents them on Rochdale Borough Council and as Greater Manchester Mayor.

The elections were cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Although the election is due to go ahead, political parties have been urged to suspend all door-to-door campaigning this year, including leafleting, during the current national lockdown.

The Cabinet Office has said that doorstep campaigning ‘goes against the stay at home order’ and is “neither essential nor necessary.”

An Electoral Commission spokesperson said: “It is an important democratic principle that elections should proceed as scheduled whenever possible. The electoral community has been preparing for Covid-safe elections since last March, when the 2020 elections were postponed. Together, we have taken steps to help everyone involved take part safely and confidently. 

“Safety measures, such as face coverings, hand sanitiser and social distancing, will be in place to make polling stations safe places to vote and to work, and we are sharing information with voters so they understand the voting options available to them.

“We are supporting administrators in their complex and important work to prepare for and deliver the polls, and we will continue to update our guidance for parties, campaigners and electoral administrators as needed in order to reflect the latest public health advice and any legislative changes.”

Responding, Councillor James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said: “Local elections play a crucial role in our nation’s democracy. This year’s will see everyone in England having a ballot of some kind, with many places having multiple ballots taking place at once – this is unprecedented. Councils have been working hard to put preparations in place to deliver these with their usual efficiency.

“It is good that the Government has set out this action plan to help guide local planning for these elections. We are pleased the Government will provide some extra funding to councils to ensure COVID-19 secure measures can be implemented for voters, council election teams and the army of volunteers in polling stations and count venues.

“The scale and cost of these vital extra measures to ensure everyone’s safe involvement in the elections and the counting of votes are now being assessed by councils. The level of extra government financial support will need to be kept under review as the real-world costs and implications are calculated. 

“Councillors make a huge difference to the quality of life of local people and how local issues are dealt with. It is vital that candidates have the ability to run campaigns so residents can make informed decisions about who they want to represent them. “We look forward to seeing further details from government on this. We also want to explore with the Government how all candidates can best set out their case for election to voters as national restrictions are lifted.”

Have your say

There are a number of ways to have your say in 2021 - you can vote in a polling station, by post, or by appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf - known as a proxy vote.

You need to be registered to vote in order to have a say in the local or mayoral elections – the easiest way to register is online at www.rochdale.gov.uk/RegisterToVote

Visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/elections to find out more about voting in the elections on 6 May 2021. The website will be updated with new information as it becomes available.

If you have any questions you can also contact the elections team by emailing elections@rochdale.gov.uk or phone 0300 3030345.