PR248

12 September 2006

For Immediate Release

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is in the process of sending out electoral registration forms - and would like to remind residents to return them so that they don’t lose their right to vote.

The forms are sent to every household in the Borough, but failure to respond could see individuals lose their right to take part in local and general elections.

“Although the register is compiled using information as at 15 October, people shouldn’t wait until then to respond to the form unless they know they are moving” said Elections Manager Linda Mockford. “The earlier we receive information the better as we have to send out reminders to those households that haven’t responded so it costs the Council more money.”

“It only takes a matter of minutes to deal with the form, but it can be one of those things that gets put aside and then forgotten.”

Voters who have been registered previously will already have their details listed on the form.  The details should be checked to see if these are still correct, and if not, people should be deleted if they are no longer resident at the property or added if they have moved in.  It is important to remember to include details of people aged 16 or 17 as they could be entitled to vote next year.

There are three ways to respond to the form.  They can be posted back to the Council free of charge and for the first time it is also possible to register by freephone or internet, if there are no changes to the form.  The form must be posted back if there are changes to register.

If your household hasn’t received a registration form, please telephone the helpline 01493 846548 and a form will be posted to you.

For further details call Elections Manager Linda Mockford on 01493 846308, or Electoral Services Officer Denise Harvey on 01493 846458.

Issued by:
Karla Symonds
Communications & Diversity Officer
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
01493 846512