Next year 18 million voters in 34 English council areas, including Cumbria and Lancashire, will only need to visit the polling station once instead of twice within a four-week period. Following last night's debate in the House of Lords, Parliament has agreed that next year's local elections should be moved from 7 May 2009 to the date of the European elections, scheduled for 4 June 2009. Following a debate last Tuesday, the House of Commons also formally agreed the move yesterday, which was proposed following a consultation in the Summer.
Local Government Minister, John Healey, said:
''This step makes good sense for voters - it will be more convenient, as people will only need to go to the polling station once - not twice - within the space of a few weeks and should help boost turnout. It will be more efficient for electoral administrators and will mean less costs for the taxpayer as a result''.
