Due to the sad death of one of the candidates in the ward of North Highcliffe & Walkford in Christchurch, the Borough Council election in that ward has had to be suspended.
One of the Labour Party candidates, Richard Walls, died on Tuesday 5 May. Under Electoral Commission rules, the election in that ward must be suspended and another election called within 35 working days of the original election date.
The Borough Council election in North Highcliffe & Walkford ward will now be held on Thursday 18 June 2015. However, polling stations in that ward will remain open on Thursday 7 May as the Parliamentary Constituency election will continue as normal.
David McIntosh, Chief Executive of Christchurch Borough Council and Returning Officer for the elections, said: “This is very sad news and our condolences go out to Mr Walls’ family. We will now be following Electoral Commission policy by suspending the Borough Council election in this ward and rescheduling it for 18 June.
“Voters in this ward should still turn up to their polling station in order to vote in the Parliamentary election. Elections in every other ward in Christchurch carry on as normal.”
All candidates already validly nominated in this ward will not need to be nominated again as their nomination stands for the election on 18 June.
Any postal votes already sent in the Borough Council elections in this ward will be sealed and will not be valid in the election on 18 June. New ballot papers will be issued to postal voters in this ward.
