THIS past week we have seen suggestions from some quarters that next year’s Scottish Parliamentary elections could be delayed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

It was confirmed by the Deputy First Minister last week that this is a matter being looked at and discussed by the relevant authorities.

According to media reports, those authorities are considering various options, including moving polling day to October or a 100 per cent postal vote.

For me, it is important that we have the election as planned in May 2021 since by that point the current session of the Scottish Parliament will be five years old and due for renewal.

This is not a question of party politics – obviously I have a party and a candidate locally whom I want to win – but of the importance of having an election.

It is also not about the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, whether you think it has been handled well or not.

The public demand that they get the opportunity to regularly kick out politicians and elect new ones if they want.

It is one of the key tenets of any functioning democracy.

That doesn’t mean that things won’t have to change to make the process safer but, having spoken with election officials in just the past couple of weeks, they are certain they can make the election process socially distanced and safe for everyone.

They are already thinking about this.

For example, in the polling station, reconfigure them so there is more space to move about.

With polling station staff, seek to have one household manning each station so that bubbles are maintained.

Consideration has also been given to encouraging more people to sign up to postal ballots, thus reducing the number of people going into polling stations on election day itself.

Or move the election to a fully postal ballot system, which I would rather not see happen, as I think having the option to vote in person is very important for some people.

In terms of campaigning, of course, for the candidates coronavirus does raise issues, since it would mean not being able to use some of the traditional campaign methods such as door knocking and street stalls.

However, I am sure that they will be able to come up with alternatives; in fact, I know they will.

Elections are important and we need to ensure that we do not sacrifice them and our democracy due to coronavirus.