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Candidates revealed ahead of Ramsey vote

Election cost ratepayers £4,000

The Ramsey electorate will go the polls on Thursday (19/07) to elect two new members of the town's local authority.

Four candidates have been confirmed for the two vacant positions.

In the South Ward, principle youth officer Nigel Howard will stand as an independent, along with auditor Daniel Webb, who is standing as a member of the Isle of Man Green Party.

Public servant Lon Pinkerton and the retired George Monk will stand for the vacant seat in North Ward, both as independent candidates.

The succesful candidates will serve until 2020.

When will the election take place?

On Thursday 19 July, voters can exercise their democratic right by heading to the polling station in the Town Hall, which will open from 8am until 8pm.

Chairman of the Commissioners Andy Cowie is the returning officer for the election, which will be decided via the 'first past the post' system.

The are 5,724 people registered to vote in the town, though turnout in the last by election was low.

When Lawrie Hooper MHK was elected to the House of Keys in 2016, only 14% of voters went to the polls for the contest to fill his vacant seat.

In the 2012 local authority general election, there was a turnout of 34.5% in North Ward, and 28% in South Ward.

How much will it cost ratepayers?

It costs Ramsey Commissioners around £4,000 to hold a local election, with just under £3,500 going towards postal fees.

Polling cards will be issued by the local authority via post to the entire electorate of each ward, in the form of an A5 postcard. The remaining £500 is spent on elections

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