With less than two weeks to go until the deadline to register to vote in the general election, New Forest District Council is urging residents to make sure they are registered in time.
The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 22 May. Anyone not registered to vote at their current address can register online at www.gov.uk/registertovote
On Thursday 8 June voters will go to the polls to elect their Member of Parliament in the general election. Two Parliamentary Constituencies, New Forest East and New Forest West, are within New Forest District Council’s area.
If you will be unable to cast your vote in person on 8 June, you can apply for a postal or proxy vote.
Voting by post is an easy and convenient alternative to voting in person. The deadline to apply to vote by post for the general election is 5pm on Tuesday 23 May. Applications must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by that time and date.
Proxy voting allows you to nominate someone else to cast your vote for you. The deadline for the receipt of applications to vote by proxy at the general election is 5pm on Wednesday 31 May.
Bob Jackson, Electoral Registration Officer for New Forest District Council, said, “I urge everyone in New Forest District Council’s area to register to vote by the 22 May deadline to ensure that their voice is heard on Thursday 8 June. This election is an opportunity to have your say on who will represent the people of the New Forest at a national level.”
Emma Hartley, Head of Campaigns at the Electoral Commission, said:
“Our research indicates that recent home movers in particular are less likely to be registered to vote. Often people think that applying to pay council tax means you are added to the electoral register too, but that is not the case. If you’ve moved house in the past few months make sure you take five minutes to go online to register to vote now.”
