Devon County Council elections > TODAY Thurs 4th May

From the local press, a reminder:

Countywide more than 600,000 voters will have the chance tomorrow to go to the polls to vote for candidates to fill a total of 60 Devon County Council seats in an election that takes place once every four years.

Traditionally Devon has higher than national average turnout, however the average turnout went down to 33 per cent in 2013 county council elections, from almost 44 percent voting in 2009 and 67 per cent voting in 2005.

Coming just over a month ahead of the surprise general election, the county election faces being overshadowed by the ongoing debate over the upcoming national vote.

But a county council spokesman urged people to get out and vote, saying: “Devon County Council is one of the south west’s key councils, and is responsible for 85 per cent of all local public services in Devon.

“The elections on May 4 are the chance for local people to have a real say and influence the future direction of the county and local priorities over the next four years.

“With an annual budget of over £1.1bn, it touches the lives of thousands of people by providing vital local services to support children and families, the elderly and vulnerable and communities.

“It is also responsible for important infrastructure such as Devon’s massive road network and is the only democratically elected voice for the whole county on issues such as the economy and sustainability.

“Helping the local community to recover from the recession, investing in a sustainable future for our communities, protecting the environment, caring for our growing number of old people, ensuring a good future for our children are all key issues the county continues to face over the coming years.

“Continued pressure on public spending, a national crisis in health and social care, devolution of powers from West­minster and Brexit all give this particular election added significance.”


Voters set go to polling stations tomorrow for county elections | News | Totnes Times
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