A FIFTH of people in Hambleton will not have a vote in upcoming local elections, because not enough candidates are standing.

Postcards informing 13,000 of those voters in Hambleton voters will soon be sent out, telling them they will not have vote in the May 4 election for North Yorkshire County Council.

As a result of two uncontested seats, around 20 per cent of the district’s electorate will no longer have a vote, and two councillors will keep their seats without facing voters.

They are Caroline Patmore who will stay in the Stillington seat, and Gareth Dadd - deputy leader of the county council - who will stay in the Thirsk seat. Both are Conservative party councillors.

The county’s deputy returning officer Dr Justin Ives said: “We have 13,000 voters in the uncontested divisions and they no longer have a vote – with 2000 of them postal voters. We are informing everyone affected by post next week.”

The uncontested seats mean 21 polling stations will not be used – in Bagby, Borrowby, Brandsby, Carlton Husthwaite, Carlton Miniott, Coxwold, Crayke, East Thirsk Community Hall, Huby, Husthwaite, Knayton, Linton on Ouse, Newton on Ouse, Shipton, South Kilvington, Stillington, Sutton on the Forest, Sutton under Whitestonecliffe, Thirkleby and Thirsk Friends Meeting House.

On May 4 most voters across North Yorkshire will go to the polls as all 72 councillors across 68 should face re-election.

The deadline to register to vote has already passed, but people who already registered still have time to apply for postal or proxy votes.

The deadline for postal vote applications is at 5pm on Tuesday, April 18 and for proxy votes it is at 5pm on Tuesday, April 15. Anyone who needs information should contact their district council.