Labour warned over council election delays by electoral watchdog

The Electoral Commission chief said ministers do not have a sufficient reason to delay May local elections, and the postponements could affect up to 3.5 million voters.

Vijay Rangarajan, chief executive of the Electoral Commission, has warned that ministers do not have a sufficient reason to delay local elections scheduled for May. The Government gave a number of councils the option to postpone elections while they prepare for local government reorganisation. Some councils have chosen to delay, and concerns have been raised about the effect on voters and elected terms. A political party has announced a legal challenge to the postponements. Key facts: - The Electoral Commission chief said ministers lacked a sufficient reason to stop millions of voters from taking part in the May local elections. - Ministers offered 63 local authorities the option to delay elections, and around 30 authorities have chosen to postpone their contests. - Five councils that postponed elections last year are set to delay again, which would mean some councillors serve seven years after their 2021 election. - Reform UK has announced it will challenge the decision in the High Court this week. Summary: The Electoral Commission framed the postponements as a question of voters being able to decide when councillors face the ballot, and noted capacity constraints were not a sufficient reason for delay. The changes could affect up to 3.5 million voters and extend some councillors' terms, and a High Court challenge has been scheduled for this week.