Traditional polling stations and ballot boxes will be used for the forthcoming Cumbria County Council elections on 5th May 2005.
The decision was made at a meeting of the full council in Kendal on Thursday, 20th January. Councillors had considered applying to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the county council elections to be run on an all-postal ballot across the county.
Councillors made their decision in light of the widespread expectation that the Government will call a General Election on the same day.
If permission had been granted for an all-postal ballot in council elections and a General Election did go ahead on the same day, the county council would be obliged to scrap its postal voting and revert to the ballot box. This would mean that £150,000 of public money which would have to be spent paving the way for a postal vote would be wasted.
Tim Stoddard, leader of the county council, said:
"Postal voting might have been an interesting exercise for forthcoming county council elections, but it was just not worth risking £150,000 when there seems to be such a strong chance that a General Election will be called for the same day."
Having decided on the use of polling stations, the county council will address the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and will consult local disability groups to overcome any problems that may arise at the polling stations. Individuals will have the option to vote by post by arrangement if required.