Stratford-on-Avon District Council residents urged to register to have their say in May

On Thursday 4 May people in Stratford-on-Avon District will have their say at local elections on who represents them locally.

Residents must be on the electoral register to be able to vote in May. With the registration deadline approaching, Stratford-on-Avon District Council is urging those who are not registered at their current address to make sure they are registered before it is too late.

The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 17 April. It takes just five minutes to apply online at Register to vote - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

This year residents in Stratford-on-Avon District will be voting to select:

• 41 Stratford District Councillors, who represent their local area and residents, and will help shape the future of their local area by making plans and taking decisions.
  
  
• 572 Parish councillors representing 81 Parish Councils, who make decisions on local issues affecting their parish and act as ambassadors for their community, keeping everyone aware of local needs and concerns.
  
  

David Dalby, the Returning Officer for Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said: "Local elections are an important opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who makes decisions about issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Stratford-on-Avon District. If you have recently turned 18 or moved home, it is particularly important to make sure you are correctly registered to vote. If you're in doubt, you can check with us by contacting us on the Elections hotline 01789 260208."

Those intending to vote at polling stations in May onwards will need to show photographic ID. For further details and a list of accepted forms of photo ID is available on the Council's website Voter ID at Polling Stations | Stratford-on-Avon District Council Those who do not have eligible ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate at Apply for photo ID to vote (called a 'Voter Authority Certificate') - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Ailsa Irvine, Director of Electoral Administration and Guidance at the Electoral Commission, said: "If you're not registered by 17 April, you will not be able to vote this May. Registering to vote only takes five minutes and can be done online.

"This year voters should also remember that they will need to bring photo ID to the polling station to be able to vote. Anyone that does not have an accepted form of ID can apply for free voter ID by 25 April."

1. People can choose to vote in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 18 April, and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on 25 April.
   
   
2. The requirement to show photo ID at the polling station, is a new requirement, introduced by the UK Government's Elections Act which was passed last year.
   
   
3. To apply for the free ID, known as a Voter Authority Certificate, voters will need to provide a photo, full name, date of birth, the address at which they are registered to vote and their National Insurance number.