RESIDENTS of an East Lancashire borough are being asked if they want to change the way they vote for their councillors.

Rossendale Council is undertaking a public consultation on how often electors should vote for their ward representatives.

Currently it holds local polls ‘by thirds’ meaning that in three years out of four, one third of council seats are up for election.

Under current legislation, the council has the power to change its arrangements to 'whole-council elections’ as used by Ribble Valley Borough and Lancashire County Councils.

This would mean that all seats on Rossendale Council would be elected at the same time, once every four years.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England will soon review the borough’s ward boundaries and the numbers of councillors in each ward.

If the council stays with elections by thirds, the commission will aim for all wards to have three members each.

If the council changes to whole-council elections then each ward can have a varying number of members, or the council can ask for single member wards.

As part of the decision making, the council is asking residents to let them know which system they would prefer.

Following the online consultation, a special meeting of Rossendale's Full Council will be held to consider the results and make the final resolution.

If a change to ‘whole-council’ elections is approved, it cannot be changed again until a period of five years has passed.

A 2018 suggestion that Pendle Council should move to 'all-out' elections every four years was never acted on.

The online consultation closes on July 11 at noon.