Council elections on the way

The people of Shropshire will have the chance to elect their local council representatives on Thursday 2 May 2013, with more than 1,400 seats up for grabs across the county. 

Elections for Shropshire Council, and all town councils and parish councils in the Shropshire Council area, take place on 2 May, and residents are being urged to make sure they are registered to vote. 

In total there will be over 1,400 seats contested at town and parish level, and 74 Shropshire Council seats (representing 63 county divisions). 

There are a variety of ways to vote – using the traditional ballot box or by post – but people must be registered, to ensure they can have their say on who will be running their local councils through to the next set of local elections in May 2017. 

The deadline for registering to vote is Wednesday 17 April, which is the also the deadline for applying for a postal vote if you are unable to make it to a polling station on the election day itself.  Anyone wanting to organise a proxy vote, perhaps because they will be away on holiday for example – which is formally asking someone to vote on your behalf – must do so by 24 April. 

People can register by calling Shropshire Council’s customer service centre on 0345 678 9015 or email elections@shropshire.gov.uk. 

Shropshire Council’s Returning Officer, Claire Porter, said:

“It’s really important that people take up their democratic right and use their vote.  We sent a registration form to every local household last autumn, and now is the time to make sure you have returned it.  If you’re not sure, or if you have moved house since then and have not registered with your new details, you need to register now – it is quick and easy.  Don’t risk losing your vote.”