Get ready to vote - candidates announced today!

This last year, we have lots of opportunity to reflect on what power is, abuse of power, power of protest, political power, and personal power, sometimes feeling powerless at home. Our electoral system gives us an opportunity every few years to identify people we want to give power to. Then elected officials represent a community using a mix of constituent’s, their own and their party’s interest. Once elected we can influence them but unless they do something really bad (illegal/shameful) they stay in post no matter what they do or don’t do.

So deciding who to vote for is a pretty big deal - now is the moment in the political cycle when the power shifts from the elected to the electorate. Candidates will be publishing on social media, leafleting, door knocking and asking for your opinion on things, asking for your vote. You have the power. And as the Spiderman films tell us “with great power comes great responsibility”.

So use your power wisely, find out who these people are, find out what they believe, what their party believes, tell them what is important to you, and use your vote. If you don’t like any of them, I encourage you to still vote (and next time think about standing yourself).

If you want are not part of a political party and would let to get involved in organising an online hustings event (question the candidates) for Lockleaze get in touch ( suzanne@lockleazent.co.uk ) and we’ll work with residents to try and set it up.

This year, four elections will take place in Bristol:

●  Police and Crime Commissioner

●  Combined Authority Mayor

●  Mayor for the City of Bristol - candidates listed here

●  Local Elections (70 Local Councillors for 34 wards) - candidates listed here

You can vote for 2 Councillors for Lockleaze, the candidates are in the picture above and listed here

There are three ways to vote:

● Polling station–in person at the polling station on your poll card, between 7am – 10pm on polling day. Polling stations will be Covid secure and safe for you to visit.

● Postal voting–you can apply for a postal vote at www.bristol.gov.uk/postalvoting

● Proxy voting–where someone can vote on your behalf either at a polling station or by post. You can find out more and apply at www.bristol.gov.uk/proxyvoting

To use your vote in these and any elections, you must be registered.

You need to register because:

●  you won’t be able to vote if you’re not registered

●  you may find it difficult getting credit for a loan, mortgage or other financial agreement

●  it is a legal requirement–you can be fined up to £80 if you don’t register

The quickest and easiest way to register to vote is at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

If you need help to register online you can visit Bristol City Council Citizen Service Point at 100 Temple Street.

You can contact Electoral Services on
0117 922 3400 for help registering to vote or to ask for a paper form.