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July 'working date' for local authority elections

Tue, 11 May 2021

A date for the local authority elections is still to be confirmed after the ballot was delayed.

Tynwald unanimously backed postponing the vote after a rise in Covid-19 cases on the Island in March.

It is now expected to take place in July, however, no date has yet been ratified.

Although it’s been widely speculated that voters are now set to head to the polls on Thursday, 22 July, no official announcement has been made.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker, whose department is responsible for local authorities, has told me that date is a “working assumption” and he hopes to be able to confirm the date soon.

Many commissioners and councillors have already served more than 12 months longer than they initially thought their terms would last, after the election was intended to take place in April last year.

With tough coronavirus restrictions in place, the decision was taken to push the vote back by a year.

That action of postponing the ballot was repeated again earlier this year as the Island entered a third lockdown.

And despite a number of suggestions being put forward, such as holding the vote on the same day as the House of Keys election in September, members agreed to push it back by three months until July.

Mr Baker is expected to confirm the date early next month, giving candidates standing just over a month to get out canvassing on the campaign trail.

For details on how to stand, contact your local authority directly or head to the Isle of Man Government website gov.im.

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