Only a short time left to register to vote

With a UK-wide referendum taking place on Thursday 5 May, Shropshire Council is urging voters to make sure they are registered to vote before it’s too late.

“The deadline to register is Thursday 14 April so if you’re not already registered, don’t delay,” said Kim Ryley, Shropshire’s counting officer. “It only takes a few minutes, just call the council’s elections team on 0345 678 9015 or print off the form from www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.

“The Electoral Commission, the independent elections watchdog, is sending a booklet to every household in the UK with information about how to have your say on 5 May, “ said Chris Hinde, Electoral Commission regional manager for the midlands.  “Don’t let the deadline and the chance to have your say pass you by.”

The referendum is on the voting system used for the election of MPs to the UK Parliament.  The question being put to voters on Thursday 5 May is:

“At present, the UK uses the ’first past the post’ system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the ‘alternative vote’ system be used instead?”

Further information

A person can register and vote in a referendum if they are on the electoral register and are:

• 18 years of age or over on polling day (A person can register once they are 16 but cannot vote until they are 18)
• A British citizen
• A qualifying Commonwealth citizen
• A citizen of the Irish Republic