As the nation entered its first lockdown last March, local elections across the country were postponed.

For Islanders that meant that the election for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight police and crime commissioner was held over till May this year.

This will now coincide with the elections for the Isle of Wight council, and for our many community, parish and town councils.

But should they be held in May?

Traditionally, political campaigning in the UK is through doorstep discussions and leaflet delivery. And for many of us that’s not just in the formal election period; the six week run-up to polling day.

But, currently, we are in lockdown. Government ministers say that delivering leaflets and knocking on doors is not allowed.

I have been very cautious. I’ve not delivered since January 2020. I had planned for a leaflet in March 2020 but we went into lockdown. And I put my plans for an end-of-year round-up leaflet on ice when much of the country was put into Tier 4 – the Island followed about a week later.

Elections are a vital part of our democracy. Electors decide who they want to represent them. So delay cannot be a casual choice.

There are four (overlapping) groups involved in elections.

First, and biggest, is the electorate. They vote by post or in person. If they vote in person they must go to a polling station, engage with election staff who will pass them one or more ballot papers. Electors then go into a small polling booth to make their choices, and finish by putting the completed ballot paper into the ballot box.

The second group is the candidates. Before standing they must get ten signatures on their nomination form from electors in the ward in which they hope to stand. Traditionally, they would then be out door knocking and leaflet delivering – often with a team of enthusiastic volunteers.

Third, there are the election staff at the polling stations from before polls open at 7am to close of poll at 10pm.

Fourth, there are the election staff who count the votes, eagerly scrutinised by candidates, their agents and others from their teams (known formally as counting agents).

It’s obvious that all of these groups have many interactions; the kind of close interactions that allows the transmission of Covid-19, unless very carefully managed. And nearly all of these interactions will take place on the same day – polling day.

For last May’s elections it was obvious that the risk was too great. Elections were postponed.

So to go ahead this May, Government must explain why it thinks things are different.

One thing that will be different is that the number of people vaccinated will number many millions.

So that could be a good argument for sticking with the May polling day.

But not all will be vaccinated, and most who are will may only have had a first dose.

Another argument being made is that people can apply for postal votes. That would reduce the number of interactions, but polling stations would still need to be open for those who want to vote in person – and staffed by people to manage the election and keep the polling booths swabbed clean.

From what I can tell, two or so months after May things are likely to be much different. The vast majority of the population could had a first vaccine dose. Many of those in the highest risk groups will have had a second dose. The nature of summer means we are all outdoors more that helps to reduce indoor transmission.

Of course, I want an election. The Isle of Wight council has not been well run under the Conservatives. Their priorities have been wrong over and again. Another four years is likely to see more damaging cuts and more wasted money.

But I would much rather people give their verdict a little later, if it means they can do so confident that they can do so much more safely.