Critics of pushing ahead with local elections in May in spite of Covid-19 have questioned whether they can be truly democratic.

They say all but the two main political parties are disadvantaged by the Government's ban on leafleting and door-knocking by party activists under lockdown.

They do allow the delivery of leaflets by post or other commercial delivery services, since these are "already operating, without causing additional circulation of campaigners".

But some candidates argue this presents a barrier to smaller parties and independents as they may not be able to afford to campaign in this way.

Don Whyte, leader of Runnymede Liberal Democrats, said: "What this means in effect is that only wealthy candidates or candidates from wealthy parties such as the Conservative Party, with their generous donors and the Labour Party through union funding, can afford to campaign by leafleting.

"If candidates are not able to effectively communicate with residents and are being excluded from elected office because of what is in their bank accounts, should the elections be delayed?"

Residents for Guildford and Villages (R4GV), the second largest group on Guildford Borough Council, said it would "disproportionately disadvantage those without the resources and funding of the national parties" and "compromise the ability of voters to make an informed choice".

The borough council's next election is not until 2023, but R4GV intend to contest seats on the county council this year.

Group chair Fiona Davidson said: "Even if there is some loosening of the restrictions just before the beginning of the regulated election period, the damage will have been done.

"There will not have been a level playing field."She has written to the Cabinet Office urging them to postpone the election until autumn.

'Democracy will not be cancelled'.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The current national lockdown restrictions are very clear: people should stay at home wherever possible.

"In order to reduce transmission of Covid infections, door to door campaigning by volunteers at this point in time is therefore not considered essential or necessary activity.

"In due course, we will be holding elections, where different rules will apply. Democracy will not be cancelled because of Covid.

"The Government has committed to engaging with political parties on the guidelines that will be in place for these elections."

They are engaging with the Parliamentary Parties Panel on their polls delivery plan, although this only has representatives of parties with two or more sitting MPs and so excludes the many non-parliamentary parties in local government in Surrey.

Nick Prescot, Conservative council leader of Runnymede borough, said: "People might think that larger parties have got a war chest but I don't see that to be the case. It is a problem for all parties."

He believes it would be anti-democratic to postpone. "People are still going to the supermarket and they should be able to exercise their democratic right to vote," he said.

"There have been a lot of by-elections in Scotland so there is a tested methodology."

Mark Brett-Warburton, a Conservative county councillor for Guildford South-East, agreed: "There is a good argument from a democratic point of view that you shouldn't delay elections.

"The States had a fantastic response in the middle of a pandemic and we are in theory on the way out, with a vaccination rollout that has proved successful. They managed to get a nationwide election to work and I don't see why we can't do something similar here."

Autumn date 'more achivevable'.

In the week before the government announcement to stick to schedule, the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) revealed survey results that showed 69% of council officials believed an autumn timetable was more achievable.

LGIU chief executive Jonathan Carr-West said: "The logistical challenges are formidable and there's a real risk that we effectively disenfranchise millions of people who do not feel safe going to the polls."

On announcing that the Government would stick to May 6th, Chloe Smith, Cabinet Office Minister for the Constitution and Devolution, said £31 million would be provided to local authorities to help make polling station and count locations Covid-19 secure.

She said: "Everyone who feels comfortable going to a supermarket or a Post Office should also feel confident attending a polling station in May.

"We encourage anybody who is shielding, or who would prefer not to attend a polling station, to apply for a postal or proxy vote ahead of the polls."

Postal votes 'unfair to socially deprived areas'.

However R4GV fears that, because registering for a postal vote involves an application form found online, this is unfair to people living in more socially deprived areas.

"Does the government want to be seen to be clearly discriminating against voters who don't have access to the internet or who don't – for whatever reason, some will simply lack knowledge or confidence – register for postal voting?" said their group chair.

"Many voters will not register for postal voting, no matter how effective a postal voting campaign is run locally. The level of postal voting varies significantly across Guildford borough – but the lowest rates are in the more socially deprived areas."

But Kath Richards, electoral services manager for Runnymede Borough Council, said: "I can honestly say that there is nothing to prove that within Runnymede.

"It may be in other areas, but certainly not in ours."

James Whiteman, electoral registrations officer at Guildford Borough Council, added: "We have not investigated whether there is any link between the uptake in postal vote applications and levels of deprivation in any particular area."