Voters urged to register in time to have their say in May elections

On Thursday 6th May residents in East Staffordshire will have their say on who represents them at the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and Staffordshire County Council elections.

 

In order to vote in these important elections, residents must be on the electoral register. With the deadline to register fast approaching, ESBC is urging people who have not registered at their current address to make sure they are registered in time.

 

The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 19th April. It takes just five minutes to apply online at gov.uk/register-to-vote.

 

This year residents will be voting in elections and to select:

  • County Councillors, who represent their local area and residents, and contribute to the development of policies in areas such as transport and social care
  • The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, who is responsible for policing and the fire and rescue service.

The Eton Park Ward By-Election and Rolleston on Dove Neighbourhood Planning Referendum will also be taking place on the same day.

 

Voters have a range of options for casting their ballot – in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote. For those who choose to vote in person, polling stations will be safe places to vote on 6 May.

 

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 20 April, and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on 27 April, but you must already be registered to vote.

 

Andy O’Brien, Electoral Registration Officer for East Staffordshire Borough Council said:

“Time is running out to make sure you can take part in these elections. If you were registered to vote in the last election and your details have not changed, you don’t need to take any action, but if you have recently turned 18 or moved home, it is particularly important that you act now because if you’re not registered by 19 April, you won’t be able to vote.”

 

For information on elections in East Staffordshire, how to register to vote, or how to apply to vote by post or by proxy, voters can visit: http://www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk/elections.