Archived press release

Date Published: 11/09/07

The deadline is fast approaching for Aylesbury Vale residents to register to vote and be in with a chance of winning a £1,000 cash prize. Electoral registration forms were sent out to more than 69,000 households in August in Aylesbury Vale ...

The deadline is fast approaching for Aylesbury Vale residents to register to vote and be in with a chance of winning a £1,000 cash prize.

Electoral registration forms were sent out to more than 69,000 households in August in Aylesbury Vale District Council’s annual campaign to collect the names of people who are entitled to vote in local and national elections.

This year AVDC has put up a £1,000 cash prize to encourage people to register to vote at the first time of asking and help the authority reduce the cost of printing and delivering reminder notices and sending out electoral registration canvassers.

Households who register to vote by 16 September will be entered into a prize draw – with £1,000 for the winner. Residents will also have the chance to win £500 if they register before 9 November and all 16 and 17-year-olds who are listed on a registration form will be entered into a prize draw for an 80GB iPod video. The money for the prizes will come from the budget that would otherwise have been spent on reminders.

People are required by law to put their name on the electoral register. By not registering, residents run the risk of being prosecuted and fined up to £1,000.

As well as being a ticket to vote, the register is also a passport to other opportunities. People who are not on the register often cannot obtain credit or open bank or building society accounts. This is because banks, building societies and finance companies use the register to verify people’s details.

Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “We don’t want people to lose their vote, or face a fine, so we would urge everyone to register their household’s details as soon as possible. This also avoids the unnecessary cost of us having to send out canvassers to those homes who have not yet replied.

“The council is making it as easy as possible for people to register to vote and there’s an opportunity to win a prize just for filling in the form. The telephone and internet registration process is a quick, easy and secure way to do it. Of course, anyone who prefers not to go online or use the freephone service can post their form back to us in the usual way.”

If the names pre-printed on the registration form are correct, householders can register online by logging on to www.registerbyinternet.com/aylesbury or over the telephone by calling 0800 197 6185. Otherwise householders, who prefer to, can sign and date the form and return it in the pre- paid envelope provided.

Next month canvassers will be calling at properties that have not registered to collect forms and to lend a helping hand filling them in.

The prize draw will be made by Leader of the Council, Councillor John Cartwright, at the full council meeting on 28 November. The winners will be notified by post.

The new register of electors is published on 3 December. Anyone who has not received a form, or has any queries about registering or voting, can call the electoral services telephone helpline on 01296 585807.