Local elections – spread them out

What are local elections for? They are to elect local representatives to run local authorities which provide key services to local people. Prior to 1977, these elections were held at different times of the year. We can once again return to that system of spreading out the elections over a period of a few months. The cost would be greatly reduced. The results could be seen as a vote for or against the central government.

It may or may not be considered a test of the central government’s popularity. By this arrangement, local elections will diminish in importance as a gauge of an incumbent government’s popularity. Getting back to a system of diffused elections might be an acceptable compromise within a democratic framework.

Leelananda De Silva