Archived press release

Date Published: 13/12/07

More than 128,000 people are now on Aylesbury Vale District Council’s electoral register – the highest number ever. The number of registered electors has increased by two per cent to 128,485 this year from 125,917 when the register wa...

More than 128,000 people are now on Aylesbury Vale District Council’s electoral register – the highest number ever.

The number of registered electors has increased by two per cent to 128,485 this year from 125,917 when the register was published in 2006. There has also been an improvement in the number of properties registered, with an increase from 96.8 per cent to 98.1 per cent.

This follows the annual canvass this autumn when residents were asked to complete an electoral registration form for the address they were living at on 15 October 2007. Only 1,337 properties did not respond, compared to 2,180 last year.

AVDC has now published the new Register of Electors for 2007. Everyone who completed a registration form during the annual canvass should now be listed.

Copies of the full register are available to view at the council’s 66 High Street offices in Aylesbury. Any amendments will be made under ‘rolling registration’ in the New Year.

The register includes all those eligible to vote in local and parliamentary elections. As well as being registered to vote, the Register of Electors also helps people with obtaining credit and other financial services as the information has to be supplied to credit reference agencies.

Householders who registered to vote this year were entered into a free prize draw with the chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Residents had the opportunity to win £1,000 if they returned their forms by 16 September and £500 if they replied before 9 November. All 16 and 17-year-olds who were added to a registration form were entered into a separate prize draw with the chance to win an 80GB iPod video.

The name of Carol Houston from Oakley was drawn at random to win the £1,000 prize, introduced by AVDC to encourage people to respond promptly and help the council avoid the costs of printing and posting reminders.

The Birch family from the Gatehouse ward in Aylesbury won the £500 prize and the 80GB iPod video was presented to 17-year-old Louisa McDonald from Soulbury.

Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “This year’s annual canvass was a great success. Voting is the most important way for people to have their say on issues that concern them so residents must ensure they are registered to vote. I urge anyone who is unsure whether they are registered to contact the electoral services team.”

If you have not registered yet or have recently moved into the area, you can still register to vote. Please call electoral services on 01296 585807 or email electoralreg@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk