Archived press release

Date Published: 30/03/07

There are only a few weeks left for Aylesbury Vale residents wanting to vote in the forthcoming local elections to make sure they are on the electoral register. It is not possible to vote without being on the register of electors and the deadline...

There are only a few weeks left for Aylesbury Vale residents wanting to vote in the forthcoming local elections to make sure they are on the electoral register.

It is not possible to vote without being on the register of electors and the deadline for registering in time for this May’s elections is fast approaching on 18 April.

People who have moved into the area – or moved home within the district – are among those reminded to make sure they are eligible to vote on 3 May.

Annual registration forms were sent to every home last August, followed by two reminders in the autumn. The council also sent out canvassers to make personal calls to those who had not completed the forms. Despite these efforts, there are hundreds of people across the district who still haven’t registered to vote.

You must by law give your registration details to the council, even if you do not wish to vote. The maximum fine for withholding this information is £1,000. People are not automatically registered even if they pay council tax.

If you are not registered you may find it difficult to open a bank account and it may affect your credit rating, as the register of electors is often used to verify a person’s existence and for credit referencing purposes to counteract fraud.

Les White, Deputy Returning Officer at AVDC, said: “Local politics affects all of us in our everyday lives, from recycling and emptying bins to parks and leisure centres. It you don’t register to vote in the local elections then you won’t have a say on the issues that affect you.

“There are many well established myths around registering to vote, but the golden rule is to simply fill in a registration form if you are not already registered and return it to the district council to secure your vote, and your voice, at election time.”

AVDC has also given a special reminder to all 16 and 17 year olds to make sure that their name is entered on the electoral registration form so that once they are 18 they can vote.

There is still time to register to vote; the last date for registrations is Wednesday 18 April. This is also the date by which you need to apply for a postal vote if you don’t want to vote at a polling station on 3 May.

Further information about the 2007 local elections; electoral registration forms and forms to change the way you vote are available on the elections pages of the council’s website at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk

If you have moved recently or don’t remember registering by phone or post last autumn, you can check that your name is on the register of electors by calling 01296 585807 or by emailing electoralregistration@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk