Vote often, vote often?

Just how many ticks and crosses might you be asked to make in May 2011?

  • Council elections (for 26 councils)
  • NI Assembly elections
  • Electoral reform (Alternative Vote) referendum

All of these opportunities to exercise your democratic right are pencilled in for Thursday 5 May next year.

The Welsh Assembly elections were also expected to be held on 5 May. There is all party support in Wales for those to be delayed for a week to prevent voter confusion.

No doubt the Electoral Commission, and the local Electoral Office NI, will have something to say about the timing, cost and effectiveness of combining or distributing these different votes.

Update – On his blog Mark Devenport reckons that the NIO could bring forward the local council elections to the first Thursday in March, while the NI Assembly elections are likely to remain on 5th May (as the election deadline is set in legislation).

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