Still time to register to vote

Stratford-on-Avon District Council is reminding residents that there is just under one week to go before the 20 April registration deadline for the general and local District, Town and Parish elections.

The Electoral Commission has been running a national media campaign reminding voters that they can't take part in the election unless they have registered. Electoral Commission research indicates that recent home movers, young people, students and those from certain black and minority ethnic communities are all less likely to be registered to vote.

The Commission's campaign aims to let people know that everyone can now easily apply to register online; this is the first general election where this has been possible.

Darren Whitney, Democratic Services Manager says: “We don't want anyone in Stratford District to miss out on having their say on polling day, it is their democratic right, so urge anyone not registered to vote to go online and get registered - it should only take around five minutes.

“With only one week left until the deadline for getting registered to vote, time is running out for anyone who hasn't got around to doing it yet. We're encouraging everyone to register as quickly as possible before the deadline on 20 April."

Please contact Stratford District Council's Elections Office on 01789 260208 to check you are on the electoral register at your current address.

You can register by visiting www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Following a Local Government Boundary review last year, the District Council is moving to all-out elections with a reduced number of Councillors from 53 to 36 with single member wards with each member being elected for 4 years.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council new wards:

Alcester and Rural

Alcester Town

Bidford East

Bidford West and Salford

Bishop's Itchington

Brailes and Compton

Ettington

Harbury

Henley-in-Arden

Kineton

Kinwarton

Long Itchington and Stockton

Napton and Fenny Compton

Quinton

Red Horse

Shipston North

Shipston South

Snitterfield

Southam North

Southam South

Stratford-upon-Avon wards include: Avenue, Bishopton, Bridgetown, Clopton, Guildhall, Hathaway, Shottery, Tiddington and Welcombe

Studley with Mappleborough Green

Studley with Sambourne

Tanworth-in-Arden

Welford-on-Avon

Wellesbourne East

Wellesbourne West and

Wootton Wawen

151 candidates will be contesting the 36 seats.

There are 41 current Councillors contesting seats with 11 Councillors choosing not to stand – Jonathan Spence, Simon Jackson, John Horner, Izzi Seccombe, Beverley Mann, Alan Scorer, Jennie Ellard, Steven Kittendorf, Rev Neville Beamer, Joyce Taylor and Gillian Roache.

Due to the boundary changes some polling stations may be different and Poll Cards informing residents about the elections and location of polling stations in their ward have been sent out.

For all your elections news please follow @SDCelects.