Archived press release

Date Published: 26/04/07

Electors in Aylesbury Vale are being urged to go out and vote in next week’s elections. Local elections are the most important way to influence services and issues that matter to you, and on Thursday 3 May, 58 district council seats will be...

Electors in Aylesbury Vale are being urged to go out and vote in next week’s elections.

Local elections are the most important way to influence services and issues that matter to you, and on Thursday 3 May, 58 district council seats will be contested. There’ll also be ballots in some of the parish and town councils in the Vale.

Aylesbury Vale District Council is behind a drive to maximise voter participation at these elections. The final push is being made in a non-political campaign based on the success and popularity of Channel 4’s Big Brother.

A radio advertising campaign with the message ‘Who stays, who goes? YOU decide!’ is currently running on Mix 96 to encourage residents to go to the polls. The 30 second advert is being played at different times of the day, Monday to Saturday, to reach as wide an audience as possible.

Over the coming week the council will be delivering leaflets to Buckingham and some areas of Aylesbury which traditionally have a low turnout, such as Fairford Leys, Quarrendon and Walton Court, urging residents to make their vote count. In addition, an ad-van will be travelling around Aylesbury, playing the radio advert and promoting key messages about voting. There’ll also be banner stands at several locations across the district.

Les White, Deputy Returning Officer, said: “Taking around 20 minutes out of your day to vote in the local elections will help ensure that your local services are managed and delivered in the way you and your family want them to be.  Local government wards are smaller than parliamentary constituencies and every vote counts, so whether it is community safety, street cleaning, leisure facilities or recycling of rubbish that is top of your agenda, use your vote to make a difference on 3 May.”

If, in the past, you have found it hard to make time to vote in local elections, this year there is really no excuse as polling hours have been extended. It means residents will have longer to cast their votes as polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm, as they usually are for parliamentary elections.

Polling stations are usually a short distance from where you live, so you can vote at your convenience. Why not take your children and show them how voting works?

If you completed a postal vote application form earlier this year, and have received a letter from the council telling you that your application to vote by post has been allowed, you will automatically receive postal voting papers this week.

You need to post back your completed postal vote papers in the envelope provided so they reach the council before 10pm on 3 May. Alternatively, you can hand in your completed postal vote papers, in the envelope provided, on 3 May at any polling station in the ward you live in.

More information about elections can be found on the council’s website at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/elections

For further help and guidance on any matter to do with the elections, please contact the electoral services team on 01296 585807 or email electoralreg@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk