Archived press release

Date Published: 25/09/06

Residents across Aylesbury Vale who have not yet returned their electoral registration forms are being reminded to respond and not lose their chance to vote. Registration forms were sent out to all households in the district at the end of August....

Residents across Aylesbury Vale who have not yet returned their electoral registration forms are being reminded to respond and not lose their chance to vote.

Registration forms were sent out to all households in the district at the end of August. So far, 47,000 households have completed and returned their forms to AVDC, but this means that the council still has to hear from 22,000 properties in the district.

If people’s names are not shown on the register they will be unable to vote in the 2007 local elections, missing the opportunity to choose who decides on their behalf about council tax, refuse collection, development plans and local services such as leisure facilities.

As well as being a must if you wish to vote, those residents who fail to respond may have difficulty in obtaining credit or opening a bank or building society account because lenders routinely check the Electoral Register to confirm applicants’ details. Plus the law requires the forms to be completed and fines of up to £1000 can be issued if they are not.

Personal calls will soon be made to all those who have yet to return their registration forms so that the register published on 1 December is as complete as possible.

Chris Sheard, Electoral Services Manager, said: “It’s really important that we keep the Electoral Register up to date to ensure that all residents have the chance to exercise their democratic right to vote. We have come across a number of people who do not realise that they must fill in the form every year. Even if residents’ details haven’t changed since last time, they still need to return the form to ensure their name isn’t deleted from the register.”

If your details are unchanged, you can also register online or by phone. Details of the number and website address are printed on your form.

If anyone has not received a form they should contact Electoral Services at the district council on 01296 585807. Information on registering can also be obtained from the council’s website at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk by following the link on the home page.