Ballot boxes may be unnecessary for the 2004 elections

The Welsh Assembly Government has offered next year's local council and European elections as a testing ground for a UK Government initiative to improve voter turn-out, and is considering holding both on the same day.

It is a marked contrast with an earlier decision - the local government elections were held back a year until 2004 so they would not clash with the Welsh assembly polls this May.

Originally they were to be held in May, but may now be delayed until June and carried out at the same time as the European parliament election.

Assembly Local Government Minister Sue Essex said: "Last week the UK government introduced a bill which opens up the possibility for whole regions of the UK to operate electoral pilot methods at combined elections.

It is more likely that a good turnout will take place for both sets of elections if they are held on the same day Sue Essex

"I will be putting the assembly government's view to the Electoral Commission, who will be advising the UK government, that Wales is very well placed to operate an all-postal election in combined elections next June."

Mrs Essex said she believed the convenience of the voter was of "paramount importance", and thought people would find it hard to understand why two separate elections were so close together if they could held on the same day.

'Good turnout'

"It is more likely that a good turnout will take place for both sets of elections if they are held on the same day.

"The Local Government Act gives the assembly the power to bring this about, but as a first step I will be consulting on this matter," she added.

But Plaid Cymru local government spokesperson Janet Ryder said: "In 2001 the decision was taken that those local government elections should be separated from the Welsh assembly election in the interests of democracy because local government is so important and should stand alone.

"Today's decision, giving councillors an extra year in government, then giving them an extra month, is being justified as being in the best interests of democracy."

'More convenient'

Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain, welcomed the prospect of same-day elections.

He said: "This is something I have been advocating for some time.

"It is far more convenient for the public to have these elections on the same day and will I hope be an encouragement for more people to vote.

"I am also pressing the Electoral Commission very strongly to make Wales a pilot area to test all postal voting for parliamentary, council and community council elections.