Petition Get Town/Parish council to create web space for candidates' statements at elections

• Turn out at Town/Parish council elections is low

• Turn out is even lower at by-elections

• Town/Parish councillors do not get paid

• It can be expensive for someone who is voluntering to serve the community to print/distribute material to hundreds/thousands of homes, particularly in rural areas

• Most local councils and have web sites

• This petition is to get local councils to create, for each candidate, free of charge, an agreed amount of web space (eg 1000 words plus one photograph) to publish the candidate's "Why vote for me" statement.

• My local council wouldn't consider doing this because of "advice from Electoral Registration office and Cornwall Association of Local Councils" that it might lead to accusations of bias.

• We need to encourage more active involvement and participation in local communities.

• Volunteering to help advanc the local democartic process neds to be encouraged, not stifled.