“Costly” polling cards binned for upcoming by-election

Polling cards won’t be distributed to the 1,700 voters eligible for next month’s Welshpool by-election, it has been confirmed.

The by-election has been called for March 30, should there be enough candidates, for the vacant seat on the Castle Ward following the resignation of Julie Arnold.

But with a cost already of around £1,800 to hold the by-election, councillors decided not to print the cards normally sent to the eligible voters, which would have cost a further £1,584.90.

Some councillors, like the Mayor, Cllr Phil Owen, and Cllrs Phil Pritchard and Chris Davies felt the polling cards would encourage more voters.

But after it was revealed that there was no difference to the turn-out at the last by-election (around 15%), when polling cards were not printed, councillors at last night’s Full Council meeting voted by 5-3 not to print, with Cllr Alison Davies saying: “People are fed up with the council spending money unnecessarily.”

Cllr Morag Bailey also reminded councillors that the expense was not needed as this was just for a one-year term with new elections set for next year.

The deadline to submit nominations for the by-election is March 3.