New Forest District Council is urging residents to check they’re able to vote at the district and parish council elections on 3 May, and it couldn’t be easier - to check whether you’re registered, telephone the council’s helpline on 01590 646106.
Dave Yates, the district council’s chief executive and electoral registration officer, wants everyone who’s entitled to vote to have the opportunity on 3 May. He said how important it is to check you are registered, particularly if you have moved house recently.
“People are not automatically registered to vote even if they pay council tax, as the law requires a separate application,” he said.
“We deliver registration forms to all residential properties in the district each autumn, and send forms to properties where we think there has been a change of occupancy. However, if people forget to return their forms they might not be registered.”
The last day for registering to vote in this year’s local government elections is 18 April. Electoral registration forms must be completed and returned to the council by this date.
If you can’t make it to the polling station, you can also vote by post or by proxy - where someone else can vote on your behalf.
Applications for new postal votes, or changes to existing postal voting arrangements must be with NFDC by 5pm on Wednesday 18 April.
If you wish to appoint a proxy, or to change any existing proxy voting arrangements, you have a week longer – it must be with the council by 5pm, Wednesday 25 April.
Any residents still unsure can visit NFDC’s website www.newforest.gov.uk, where you can find more about postal and proxy voting. Any forms you might need to register to vote, or to vote by post or by proxy, can be downloaded from the site. You can also get the forms from the helpline on 01590 646106. |
