Our online efforts to boost local democracy

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/apr/25/our-online-efforts-to-boost-local-democracy

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Following on from your editorial (20 April) on the importance of the police and crime commissioner (PCC) elections, we want to highlight the other elections happening on 5 May that are equally overlooked and too important to be lost in the shadow of the EU referendum.

Local elections taking place across 124 councils in England on 5 May will arguably have the greatest impact on the day-to-day issues that most people care about. Who will look after our elderly relatives? Will our children have jobs, the right skills to do them and homes to live in? Will our neighbourhoods be clean, safe and prosperous? These are all key questions in the warp and weft of everyday life and all things that are shaped by the politicians who run our local councils.

However, it’s surprisingly hard to find good-quality information about the forthcoming locals. Voters may have received polling cards and campaign leaflets through their letterboxes or even found aspiring councillors on their doorsteps, but it’s virtually impossible to find out about the bigger picture.

There is no easily accessible online information about local elections, candidates and subsequent results, leaving many voters in the dark when it comes to who they are electing locally and the political makeup of their councils. We believe that voters should have as much information, as transparently as possible, to help them make these decisions and understand their potential consequences. That’s when democracy works best.

It is for this reason that we are working together to deliver the UK’s first results tracker for local government elections, pulling together results live from counts taking place across the country. And, thanks to sterling efforts of volunteers, we have this week launched an online platform for elections and candidates including PCCs (see whocanivotefor.co.uk). However, there is a long way to go.

Local democracy is at its strongest when people have all the information they need about who makes decisions in their area. Right now, that information is simply not good enough. We urgently need to improve it.Jonathan Carr-West Chief executive, Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) Jeni Tennison Deputy CEO, Open Data Institute Sym Roe Director, Democracy Club

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