Published on 5th May 2021

Vote

Voters go to the polls tomorrow (Thursday 6 May) to elect councillors to represent them and help provide important local services.

This year, extra safety measures are being taken to protect voters and election staff from the risk of coronavirus. Polling station entry and exit points will be carefully managed, there will be screens and sanitiser, and although pencils will be provided, voters are encouraged to bring their own too. Everyone entering a polling station must also wear a face covering unless they are exempt.

All those eligible to vote, can vote in elections to:

  • Elect councillors to Cheltenham Borough Council.
  • Elect councillors to Gloucestershire County Council.
  • Elect the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Gloucestershire.

Leckhampton ward of the parish of Leckhampton with Warden Hill also has a parish election.

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm, although some people may have cast their votes by post already.

Cheltenham Borough Council elections are usually held every four years, however the election due in May 2020 was delayed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Cheltenham’s returning officer, Paul Jones said: ‘’I hope that people will exercise their democratic right to vote to have their say in the county, borough and PCC elections.

‘’Residents should feel reassured that we have taken every step to ensure safety and cleanliness at our polling stations in line with guidelines.  Due to the extra safety measures being taken, including social distanced queuing, there may be some delays at polling stations. Residents are invited to come along with their own pencils to mark the ballot papers if they wish.’’

Counting of ballots and announcement of results will take place on Friday 7 May  (Gloucestershire County Council election), Saturday, May 8 (Cheltenham Borough Council) and Monday, May 10 (Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner).

Full declaration of results for Gloucestershire County Council and Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner will be made by Gloucestershire County Council and Gloucester City Council respectively.

Results from the Cheltenham count for the county and borough elections can be viewed live on the council’s You Tube channel youtube.com/cheltenhamborough and all of Cheltenham’s results will be posted at www.cheltenham.gov.uk/elections2021 and live from the council’s Twitter account @CheltenhamBC.  Access to the count is strictly by invitation only and due to the coronavirus pandemic, numbers of people at the count are limited.

Cheltenham Borough Council is made up of 40 councillors, 20 seats are available for election.  The current political makeup of the Council is 29 Liberal Democrats, 6 Conservatives, 2 People Against Bureaucracy and three non-aligned. The Liberal Democrat group therefore has an overall majority of 20 on the Borough Council.


For press enquiries contact the communications team: [email protected], 01242 264288.