Local election
The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (December 2010) |
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In many parts of the world, local elections take place to select office-holders in local government, such as mayors and councillors. Elections to positions within a city or town are often known as "municipal elections". Their form and conduct vary widely across jurisdictions.
By area
Europe
Adopted by the
Middle East
In Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, local elections have proven to be easier to achieve than larger scale ones that affect the national or federal government. By giving voice to people on the smaller scales of government, over such issues as water supply, power, and sewer systems, confidence is thought to be built to eventually reform higher levels of government.
In more mature
New Zealand
Local elections are held every three years to elect local government politicians for the two tiers of local government in New Zealand.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom the term local elections refers to county, unitary authority, borough, district, city, town and parish elections. These take place on the first Thursday of May every year. Councillors generally sit for four years. The number of independent (non-party) Councillors has declined over the past forty years - nowadays the overwhelming majority of local Councillors belong to one of the major parties.
United States
In the
Residents of Takoma Park, Maryland can vote in municipal elections when they turn sixteen - the first in the United States.[1]
See also
- By-election
- General election
- Gubernatorial election
References
- ^ Shin, Annys (3 November 2013). "Takoma Park 16-year-old savors his history-making moment at the polls". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
External links
- Electing Local Authorities - article from the ACE Project
- Direct Local Democracy in Switzerland - article from the ACE Project
- "Democracy at the local Level" an overview from *International IDEA
- A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787-1825
- Congress of the Council of Europe
- Explanatory report of the European Charter of Local Self-Government