Mae’r rhan allweddol gyntaf yn ymwneud â’n diddordeb cyffredin mewn diogelu democratiaeth iach ar bob lefel o lywodraeth. Mae fy swyddogion wedi gorffen eu dadansoddiad o etholiadau’r cynghorau cymuned a thref ym mis Mai, ac mae’r data’n codi pryderon difrifol ynghylch y lefel o ymgysylltu rhwng cymunedau a’u cynghorau. Yn etholiadau mis Mai, dim ond 22% o’r 7,883 o seddi oedd â chystadleuaeth. Roedd 62% o’r seddi’n rhai diymgeisydd – sy’n golygu na chynhaliwyd etholiad – ac roedd 16% o’r seddi heb eu llenwi, a chânt eu llenwi drwy etholiad ychwanegol neu drwy gyfethol.
The first key strand is about our shared interest in securing a healthy democracy at every level of government. My officials have completed their analysis of May’s community and town council elections, and the data raises serious concerns around the level of engagement between communities and their councils. At May’s elections, only 22% of the 7,883 seats were contested. 62% of seats were uncontested – meaning that no election was held – and 16% of seats were unfilled, to be filled through further election or by co-option.