A resignation in Sefton Park has prompted the ballot next month
A ballot box(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Voters in a leafy suburb of Liverpool will head to the polls next month to choose a new member of the city council. Households around Sefton Park will be asked to cast their ballot in a by-election following the resignation of former councillor John Howard.
The Green Party member, who had served as deputy leader of the group, stepped down earlier this month. Liverpool Council has now confirmed the date for a by-election to replace him.
Former councillor Howard won 57% of the vote in 2023’s all out election for the Green Party, comfortably beating Labour’s Jim Davies into second place. His resignation leaves the opposition group with just two councillors.
Dr Howard is a research scientist at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine investigating how to overcome the spread of malaria by mosquitoes, and a union organiser for the University and Colleges Union. It is understood he has stepped down owing to work commitments.
A notice of election was confirmed by the city council online and posted outside Liverpool Town Hall on Thursday.
More than 4,000 people will have the chance to cast their vote on Thursday July 17.
People enjoying a walk around the lake in Sefton Park(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
The Green Party announced Katie Jarman as their candidate on June 5, with Dr Howard’s resignation formally confirmed on June 8.
No other candidates have been formally announced for the ballot at this stage.
Nominees must enter their candidacy to Andrew Lewis, the city’s chief executive and returning officer, no later than 4pm on Friday June 20. Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by midnight on Tuesday July 1.
Applications can be made online at: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Anyone wishing to vote in person on election day at their designated polling station will be required to show a valid form of photo ID. Poll cards will be delivered to eligible households by June 26.
To vote by post in this election and do not already have a postal vote in place, the deadline for receipt of applications is 5pm on July 2. The deadline to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf at this election is 5pm on July 9.