Apathy in many areas for local polls

Nominations for this year's all-Island local authority elections show little appetite for a contest at the polls. 

A total of 150 seats are up for grabs on 22 village, town and parish authorities - nominations closed at 5pm today (5 April).

Of 13 districts which have announced nominees so far, only three will hold public votes, while eight will have to re-advertise due to lack of interest in the positions.

No elections will be held in Andreas, Arbory, Michael and Santon, where the number of candidates matches the seats available. The candidates will be elected unopposed.

There are still vacancies in Bride, German, Jurby, Lezayre, Malew, and Ramsey's South Ward, where there are fewer candidates than required to fill the authority. Onchan is also understood to be on that list. 

Just one candidate has come forward in Ballaugh, where there are five seats to be filled.

There will be an election in the new unified district of Garff, with contests in the Laxey and Lonan wards, but not Maughold. Twelve candidates have applied for nine seats.

Voters will also be given a choice in Castletown, where there are nine vying for seven seats, and in Ramsey's North Ward where eight will contest six.

A confirmed list of candidates will be released by the authority clerks at 2pm tomorrow (6 April) after a period allowed for withdrawals or objections.  

The elections will be held on Thursday 28 April.