Paulton local election postponed after death of candidate
All other votes this Thursday will still go ahead
With local elections planned this Thursday (4 May) one vote in Bath and North East Somerset will no longer go ahead, after the death of a candidate.
The Green Party says one of its candidates for the Paulton ward, Tim Morgan, has passed away.
Legally Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) Council must now postpone the election in that ward for a later date, though the votes in all other wards will still go ahead as planned.
Will Godfrey, Returning Officer for Bath & North East Somerset Council said: “We send our condolences to Tim Morgan’s family at this sad time.
"Legally, we must now postpone the election in Paulton ward.
"I have contacted the other candidates and letters have gone out first class to notify all affected electors.”
A new date for the election is being arranged and new poll cards will be sent to all affected voters once the date is set.
The poll cards will tell voters how to arrange a postal or proxy vote if they cannot make it to the polling station on the new date.
Any already returned postal votes will no longer count, with postal voters set to be sent a new postal vote.
The new ballot papers will be yellow to help voters make sure they return the correct one.
The Green Party has paid tribute to Tim in a statement from BANES party chair Sam Ross.
"On behalf of the Bath and North-East Somerset Green Party, we would like to offer our deepest condolences to his friends and family at this difficult time," he said.
"Tim was an active campaigner and candidate for the party over the years and his warm smile and kind nature will be missed by those who were fortunate enough to have known him."