Don't get caught out - make sure you are on the Electoral Register

Residents in Wyre Forest are being urged to safeguard their chance to vote in next year's District Council elections by registering this autumn.

The plea comes as the annual canvass draws to a close, where local authorities in Great Britain have been delivering electoral registration forms to all households. District Council elections will take place next May and there is also a proposal for a national referendum on changing the voting system for Parliamentary elections. To vote in the election and referendum, eligible residents must be on the electoral roll.

All households in the District should have received a voter registration form from the Council by now. It lists all the people who are currently on the electoral register for the address. Electors are asked simply to add anyone who should be registered and is not on the list and cross out anyone who no longer lives at the address.

Children under the age of 16 should not be included but anyone who will be 18 by 30 November 2011 should be added. The form should be signed and returned to the council as soon as possible.

Ian Miller, Electoral Registration Officer, said: " We have already received over 80% of the registration forms and are now asking those residents that haven't returned theirs not to delay.  You are not automatically registered if you pay council tax. If you are not on the electoral roll you can miss out on the chance to have your say on who should represent your area on local councils, in Parliament and in Brussels."

"Registering to vote is very simple.  Either fill in the form that will have come through your door or contact the Council on 01562 732928 if you have not received one.  Once you have filled in the form, make sure you send it to us as soon as possible by using the pre-paid envelope supplied.  If there are no changes to be made to the details shown you can register by freephone 0800 197 9884, via the internet  or by SMS text 80212 using the details supplied on the form. These methods of confirming the accuracy of the register have proved popular with nearly 11,000 households using them to register at any time of day or night."

Date of issue - 20th October 2010