Time is fast running out for anyone who wants to vote in the local elections but is not on the electoral register yet.
Sunderland’s city council elections will take place on Thursday 3rd May – with a third of the council’s seats up for grabs.
Anybody who is not yet registered and would like to have their say has until midnight tonight (Tuesday 17th April) to complete the registration process.
Registering to vote, however, is a simple procedure that can be done in just a few moments.
Sunderland currently has 207,810 people on its electoral register and 86,414 people have registered for a postal vote. Voting in the local elections has already begun as those entitled to a postal vote have now received their ballot packs.
There’s only one day left to register to vote!
If you’re 18 or over on the 3rd of May, make sure you don’t miss out on your opportunity to vote in the upcoming local elections. https://t.co/L9ZIzJnuXo pic.twitter.com/85UthQWA5X
— DAOSPoliticsSociety (@DAOSpolitics) April 16, 2018
Irene Lucas CBE, Sunderland’s returning officer, said, “Time is running out if you want to take part in the election on Thursday 3rd May.”
“The election is an opportunity to have your say on who represents your ward and your neighbourhood. But if you’re not registered, you won’t be able to vote.”
“Registering to vote takes a few minutes and can be done either online, over the phone or by completing an application form and it means that you can take part in this important election, so make sure you are registered to vote by the deadline.”
Sunderland City Council is one of more than 150 councils up and down the country that are holding local elections this year.
Sunderland has 75 councillors, who each serve a term of four years. The city is divided into 75 wards, each of which has three seats. As the council holds elections by ‘thirds’, this means that one seat in each ward will be contested in these upcoming elections.
You can register to vote online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. For more information, you can telephone Electoral Services on 0191 520 5550 or email elections@sunderland.gov.uk.
The deadline to be included on Sunderland’s electoral register is midnight on Tuesday 17th April. Applications to vote by post must reach the council by 5.00 pm on Wednesday 18th April.
In 2017, it was estimated that nationally around 7 million eligible voters were not registered. Young people were the least likely to be registered, with around 30% of those aged 34 and under not registered to vote.
(Featured image courtesy of John Keane, from Flickr Creative Commons)
