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Large swathes of the country have been left as “democracy deserts” for the May local elections, according to a campaign group.

Some 300 council seats in England have been guaranteed for one party or individual before a single ballot has been cast– affecting around 850,000 potential voters.

According to analysis by the Electoral Reform Society this means nearly 150 councillors will win their seats on 2 May without a single vote being cast because the candidates are running uncontested.

Around 270,000 potential voters in these areas won’t be able to decide who will represent them locally.

Parties or independent candidates have also been guaranteed an additional 152 seats through multi-member wards going ‘under-contested’ meaning that at least 1 seat in the ward is guaranteed for a particular party or independent candidate.

(Image: Evening Standard / eyevine)

The Conservatives are set to gain 137 of these uncontested seats, with the Liberal Democrats picking up five, four going to independent candidates and Labour securing two.

The East Midlands has the highest number of uncontested seats, followed by the East of England, West Midlands and the South East in close proximity.

Darren Hughes, Chief Executive, Electoral Reform Society, said: “It is frankly a disgrace in the 21st century for parties to have landed 300 seats without a single ballot being cast. Around 850,000 potential voters in England live in wards where a party or individual is guaranteed a seat – weeks before polling day.

“Large parts of England are at risk of becoming ‘democracy deserts.’

“This research also highlights ‘under-contested’ seats in multi-member wards, where representation is guaranteed due to a lack of competition.

“The result is councillors who have no proper mandate from the people they serve. This lack of democratic competition is bad for scrutiny, bad for local services and bad for democracy.

The Welsh government is currently consulting on allowing councils to switch to a more proportional voting system.