The polling stations open at 7 am on Thursday 6th May 2021 and voters will have until 10 pm to cast their vote for a new Swanage Town Council councillor and the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner.
The election results will be announced on Friday 7th May 2021.
In Swanage, residents who live in the Swanage North ward will be able to vote for a new member of Swanage Town Council.
The three candidates (in alphabetical order by surname) for the Swanage Town Council by-election are:
- John Michael Bishop – Conservative Party – 165 High Street, Swanage
- Philip Michael Eades – Independent – 339 High Street, Swanage
- George Holden – Labour Party – Sunnydown Farm, Kingston Road, Worth Matravers
Swanage Town Hall in the High Street
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner election
All eligible Swanage residents will be able to vote for Dorset’s new police and crime commissioner.
The office of police and crime commissioner (PCC) was created through the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, and the first elections took place in 2012.
Martyn Underhill, Dorset’s current PCC, is not seeking re-election. The candidates for the 2021 election (in alphabetical order by surname) are as follows:
- Patrick Canavan – Labour Party
- Dan Hardy – Independent
- Mark Robson – Liberal Democrats
- Claire Seymour – Green Party
- David Sidwick – Conservative Party
The PCC candidates’ statements may be viewed on the Choose My PCC website.
Covid-safe elections
Last year at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, elections were postponed but this year they are going ahead with measures in place to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus.
These include:
- Social distancing (inside and outside venues)
- Limits on the number of people inside polling stations
- Maximum ventilation of polling stations
- Hand sanitiser
- Regular cleaning
Dorset Council who is responsible for the smooth running of the elections is encouraging voters to bring their own pens or pencils. However, they will be provided for anyone who does not bring their own.
Face coverings are required inside the polling station (unless exempt). Elections staff will also be wearing face coverings.
If anyone needs support to complete a ballot paper, they can take someone with them to help, for example a carer or support worker. The person helping must either be a close relative or someone eligible to vote in that election and they must not already have helped more than one other person to vote at the same election. Alternatively, the member of staff in charge of the polling station can help.
“Our polling stations will be safe places for voters”
Jonathan Mair, Corporate Director – Legal & Democratic for Dorset Council said:
“I want to give every reassurance that our polling stations will be safe places for voters to cast their vote on Thursday 6th May. All venues will be Covid-safe, with the measures applied that we’ve all become used to in our supermarkets and banks over the past year.
“Our staff have been working hard to achieve this and look forward to meeting local voters on 6th May.”
To find your polling station in Swanage, look at the voting card sent through the post or check on this website
