NINE wards in Gwent county council areas will have no election this year with ten seats going uncontested in the May 3 elections.
In Monmouthshire, six council seats in six wards will see no election on Thursday, while in Caerphilly four seats in a total of three wards are uncontested.
The Electoral Reform Society (ERS) said that in Monmouthshire an estimated 8,692 residents will have been denied a vote during the poll.
The campaigning group called for the Welsh Government to adopt the voting system used in Scotland for local elections – the Single Transferable Vote.
The system allows voters to express a number of preferences for who they want to represent them.
ERS argues that the change has “reinvigorated Scottish local democracy” and none of the Scottish council seats due for election this year are uncontested.
Stephen Brooks, director of the ERS Wales, said: “Uncontested seats are a symptom of the lack of real competition in our local democracy.
“Nearly 9,000 Monmouthshire voters will be denied a choice over who makes decisions on their behalf across a range of important issues like council tax, social services, and schools.”
Across Wales, 95 councillors will be elected unopposed.
● The duly elected councillors in each uncontested ward are: Bryan Jones, Goetre Fawr, Monmouthshire, Conservative; Peter Clarke, Llangybi Fawr, Monmouthshire, Conservative; Ruth Edwards, Llantilio Crossenny, Monmouthshire, Conservative; Geoff Burrows, Mitchel Troy, Monmouthshire, Conservative; Ann Webb, St Arvans, Monmouthshire, Conservative; Brian Strong, Usk, Monmouthshire, Conservative; Alan Higgs, Aberbargoed, Caerphilly, Labour; Keith Reynolds, Aberbargoed, Caerphilly, Labour; David Hardacre, Darren Valley, Caerphilly, Labour; Robin Woodyatt, Maesycwmmer, Caerphilly, Labour.
Election statement
STATEMENT from Des Hillman, leader of a group of independents in Blaenau Gwent.
I have a close working relationship with my group of standing councillors and I am endeavouring to help a number of new independent candidates to get elected.
I would like to say that as a minority independent group we would watch that the running of the council in Blaenau Gwent would be done in the best interests of the people that work, visit and live there and not in the interests of any political party or individuals on the council that has happened in the past.
We will be monitoring everything that the people of Blaenau Gwent deserve from their council for the tax they have to pay, that includes the town and community councils and the police.
We are a group of like-minded councillors, not a political party.
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