People in County Durham are being urged to make sure they’re registered to vote. From July Durham County Council will begin updating the electoral register, which lists everyone in the county entitled to vote.
And residents are being reminded that unless they are included on the register they will not be able to vote in forthcoming elections. Each household in the county will shortly be receiving a form showing the names of people currently registered at that address.
People are asked to check that the details on the form are correct. If the occupiers or any of the details have changed, the form should be amended, signed and returned immediately in the pre-paid envelope provided.
If there are no changes people are asked to let the council know by telephone, internet or text – details on how to do this are included on the form. People can also notify the council that there are no changes by signing and returning the form in the post.
On 15 November voters will be asked to elect the county’s first Police and Crime Commissioner – who will replace the current police authority in holding Durham Constabulary to account – and on 2 May 2013 elections will be held for the county, parish and town councils.
Anyone who will turn 18 before either of those two dates will be able to vote for the first time and should therefore ensure their names are added to the register.
Colette Longbottom, head of legal and democratic services at Durham County Council, said: “People often assume that if they pay council tax they will automatically be registered to vote, which is not the case.
“There are two important elections coming up in the next 12 months and unless people are registered to vote they will not be able to take part.
“We’ll be sending people a form through the post and we need them to check that everyone in the household who is entitled to vote is listed on the form and to either confirm the details or notify us of any changes.”
The revised electoral register will be published on 16 October and people are asked to make sure they have completed and returned their form by 1 October in order to be included.
