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The 3020 Wiltshire Local Elections will be held on 2 October 3020 to elect the executive heads (Mayors) of the cities of Arches, Juneville, Newton and Washington. The elections were announced on 20 August 3020 by the Elections Authority following the 3020 re-organization of the Government of Wiltshire. According to the Third Elections Act 3020, Mayors are to serve a term of one year. These local elections also coincide with the elections for the Arches City Council and the Walkerton City Council.
Electoral system
Mayors
The election of Mayors will take place using a ranked ballot. Electors will be given the opportunity to rank all official candidates. In order to win the election, one candidate must win a majority of first preference votes. If this does not happen, all but the top two candidates in first preference votes are eliminated with the votes of the eliminated candidates being assigned to their next remaining choice.
In order to become an official candidate and appear on the ballot, perspective candidates must meet the requirements laid out by the Wiltshire Elections Authority. For election as a Mayor, this includes meeting two of the four following requirements;
Mayoral candidate ballot requirement;
- Being an incumbent Mayor (in this election, being the Leader of the City Council meets this requirement);
- Party currently holding seats on the City Council;
- Reach 1,000 signatures on a ballot petition;
- Reach 400 individual donors.
City Council
The City is divided up into a set number of Wards. For the elections taking place on 2 October, the number of Wards is as follows;
| City | Number of Wards |
|---|---|
| Arches | 30 |
| Walkerton | 43 |
In addition to the Wards, 20 additional seats are granted. City Council elections run on the same Mixed-Member Proportional system as national elections, with electors voting for a) Ward representative, and b) party.
This results in two sets of requirements. Firstly, the requirements for a party to appear on the Party vote ballot and the requirements for an individual candidate to appear on the specific Ward ballot. The requirements, as laid out by the Election Authority, is as follows with nomination requiring two of the three following requirements;
Party Vote ballot requirement;
- Currently hold seats on the City Council;
- Reach 1,000 signatures on a ballot petition;
- Reach 400 individual donors.
Ward vote ballot requirement;
- Currently hold a seat on the City Council;
- Reach 75 signatures on a ballot petition;
- Reach 20 individual donors.
Election for Mayor of Arches
The position of Mayor of Arches was established under the 3020 re-organization. The leader of the East Arches Local Authority, Councillor Bryn Walter-Jones (Labour) has announced he intends to seek the position. In addition, Councillors Helen Richards (Liberal Conservative) and Thomas Burke (Liberal Conservative) have both announced their intention.
This election isn't expected to be a majorly contested one. However, the Arches is a traditionally close area in national elections and could become a close race.
| Candidate | Party | Popular vote | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryn Walter-Jones | Labour | TBD | |
| Helen Richard | Liberal Conservative | TBD | |
| Thomas Burke | Liberal Conservative | TBD | |
Election for Mayor of Juneville
The position of Mayor of Juneville was established under the 3020 re-organization. The leader of the Juneville Council, Hugh Merry, announced that he would seek the position. In addition, Bill Woodking, the husband of Sonya Inyo, the Leader of the Opposition, announced he would seek office as Mayor of Juneville.
| Candidate | Party | Popular vote | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hugh Merry | Socialist | TBD | |
| Bill Woodking | Liberal Conservative | TBD | |
| William Tork | Labour | TBD | |
Election for Mayor of Newton
The position of Mayor of Newton was established under the 3020 re-organization. Currently, three candidates have put themselves forward for election, including Liberal Conservative candidates Tim Gorge and Ryan Westbrooke (brother of Shadow Chancellor Jack L. Wilson). In addition, Labour AM Stockard Jo is also contesting the race. Jo won the backing of the Newton Labour Association and is the official Labour candidate, unlike Westbrooke and Gorge who will need to fight for their nominations.
| Candidate | Party | Popular vote | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Gorge | Liberal Conservative | TBD | |
| Ryan Westbrooke | Liberal Conservative | TBD | |
| Stockard Jo | Labour | TBD | |
Election for Mayor of Washington
Incumbent Mayor Alberto Siliotti has announced he will not seek re-election as Mayor, citing his intention to remain a member of the Wiltshire National Assembly. In his place, Hanley Halifax (Labour Assembly Member) announced he will seek the position. In addition, former Green Party Mayor Ernest Stone will also seek election as a Liberal Conservative, as well as former Liberal Conservative Deputy Mayor, Giana DeCapricorn. As both Stone and DeCapricorn are standing, a nomination decision will be made by the Washington LibCon Association.
| Candidate | Party | Popular vote | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanley Halifax | Labour | TBD | |
| Ernest Stone | Liberal Conservative (nomination pending) | TBD | |
| Giana DeCapricorn | Liberal Conservative (nomination pending) | TBD | |