Elections are set to go ahead in North Yorkshire on 6 May 2021.
- Police Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC)
- All North Yorkshire County Councillor seats
- Bishop Monkton parish by-election
There are two issues affecting the elections locally:
- COVID-19
- The review of local government
The government has taken a view that the complications of COVID-19 is manageable and should not delay elections. Some areas are already encouraging postal votes and have said that there may be some delays at polling stations due social distancing.
NYCC have said that they have to work on the basis that the County Council elections in May 2021 will go ahead until such time they are told by the government that they have been deferred to May 2022. There have already been meetings with the elections officers in the district councils to plan for the elections and address the issues associated with running an election during a pandemic.
Richard Cooper, Leader of Harrogate Borough Council, believes that if the review of local government continues then elections can not go ahead:
If they decide to proceed with the review of local government then they will delay May’s county council elections until May 2022 and elect councillors to the new single (or ‘unitary’ council).
The indication are that the review will go ahead which would mean that there will be no council elections in North Yorkshire in May.
