Last chance to register to vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections

Archived press release

Date Published: 25/10/12

Vote box

Residents throughout Aylesbury Vale are being reminded that there are just a few days left to register to vote in the first ever Police and Crime Commissioner elections taking place next month.

With the deadline to register to vote on Wednesday 31 October, anyone who has not yet registered should contact the electoral registration team at Aylesbury Vale District Council.

The call comes as the Electoral Commission begins distributing a booklet to every household in England and Wales with information about the Police and Crime Commissioner elections. Copies of the booklet, including different format versions, can be downloaded from aboutmyvote.co.uk/pcc

From midday on 26 October, the government’s candidate information website: www.choosemypcc.org.uk will provide information about each of the candidates standing for election in the Thames Valley area.

Residents who want to apply to vote by post or alternatively cancel a postal vote and attend a polling station, must do so by 5pm on 31 October.

The final deadline for applying for a proxy vote is 5pm on 7 November. Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm on 15 November.

Andrew Grant, Police Area Returning Officer (PARO), said: “You have to be on the electoral register if you want to have your say in the first Police and Crime Commissioner Elections on 15 November. Residents who have yet to register must do so by the end of the month. Some assume that paying council tax means you are registered to vote but that is not so. I am urging all those who have not registered to do so as soon as possible.”

The council estimates that approximately 3,000 households have not returned their annual voter registration form.

The Police and Crime Commissioner election will be carried out under a new voting system, the supplementary vote. This means electors will be asked to select a first and second choice for the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner. Should a candidate fail to get over 50 per cent of the first preference votes polled, the second preference votes will be used to decide which of the two highest polling candidates should be elected.

A YouTube video featuring animated character “Victor the voter” will explain the supplementary vote system.

The candidates standing for election in the Thames Valley area have now been confirmed as:
• Patience Tayo Awe – Independent
• Barry Cooper - UKIP
• Geoff Howard – Independent
• John Orrell Howson – Liberal Democrat
• Anthony Stansfeld – The Conservative Party Candidate
• Tim Starkey – Labour Party Candidate

The new Commissioner will assume office on Thursday 22 November and will serve until the next election which is scheduled for May 2016, after which elections are held every four years. The Commissioner can only be elected for two consecutive terms.

If anyone would like any further information about postal votes or voting in general at the elections, please call 01296 585701 or email electoralreg@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk

Further information about the PCC elections can be found at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk