A FORTHCOMING Darlington Borough Council by-election could be decided by postal voting following the success of the system used in local elections last year.

The by-election in the borough's North Road ward has been brought about by the resignation of Councillor Susan Walker and will be held in August.

The postal voting system used in recent local and European elections was criticised for its complexity, with declarations of identity needing to be witnessed, resulting in many votes being spoiled.

To tackle this issue officers are recommending that for the pilot by-election a simplified version is used, where declarations are signed by the voter, but do not require a witness, as in last year's elections.

In spite of the simplification, six per cent of the votes returned last year were still spoiled, a total of 2,338 ballot papers.

It has been suggested postal votes should be used because of the increased turnout: 51.1 per cent of the electorate cast votes last year.

But Paul Wildsmith, director of corporate services at Darlington council, said postal votes were 83 per cent more expensive than those held at polling stations.

"The 83 per cent increase in costs on a conventional election is worth noting," he says in a report.

"However, given the significant rise in turnout, the increase in cost per vote cast is of the order of 21 per cent. This would appear, therefore, to present reasonable value for money."

The proposals will go before a special council meeting on June 22.

If approved, the council's chief executive, as returning officer, will apply to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to run the all-postal ballot.