Don’t lose your vote!

Cheshire East Council is asking people to ensure they are registered to vote – so they don’t miss out on having their say in the local elections on 2 May.

And the message from Cheshire East is: If you’re not registered to vote, you can’t vote –so you haven’t got a voice.

If you are not registered, you could miss out on being able to vote in the upcoming polls for your local town, parish and borough councils.

Local government elections select councillors, who are responsible for making decisions on running services in your local area. These include housing, education, transport, planning, parks, leisure, public safety, social care and waste management.

In order to vote in these important elections, residents must be on the electoral register. Cheshire East Council is actively supporting the Electoral Commission’s drive to boost voter registration and is urging residents, who have not registered at their current address, to make sure they do so in good time. 

The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Friday 12 April. Anyone can apply online at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote – and it takes just five minutes. 

Cheshire East Council’s acting chief executive Kath O’Dwyer, who is the Returning Officer for elections in the borough, said: “Please don’t leave it too late to register to vote. Time is running out to make sure you can take part in the local elections. 

“These polls are a real opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Cheshire East. If you’re not registered by 12 April, you won’t be able to vote.”

“So, I would urge everyone of voting age to take just a few minutes to ensure that they are registered to vote.”

Melanie Davidson, head of support and improvement at the Electoral Commission, said: “If you have recently turned 18 or moved home, it is particularly important that you act to ensure that you are registered to vote. It takes just five minutes online and means that you can take part in this important election.”

If you were registered to vote in the last election and your details have not changed, you will still be registered to vote. If in doubt, check your details by giving us a call on 0300 123 5016.

The deadlines to apply for a postal vote or a proxy vote are also looming:

• The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Monday 15 April. Completed forms must be received by the Cheshire East Council elections team before this deadline
• The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April. Completed forms must be received by the Cheshire East Council elections team before this deadline.

Anyone looking for more information about voting should visit the website: www.yourvotematters.co.uk.

Remember: registering to vote does not mean you have to – it just means you don’t lose out on the opportunity to do so.

On polling day, Thursday 2 May, polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm.

Polling cards will be delivered to all registered electors later this month (March).