'No voice no vote' warning

11:40am Sunday 17th August 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

No Vote, No Voice - that is the message Preston City Council hopes will encourage people to sign up to the electoral register and secure their right to vote.

The No Vote No Voice campaign will begin with an information and advice day onboard Citizenzone – the council’s mobile information centre – at the Flag Market next Thursday (August 19) between 10am and 4pm.

Council officers will be on hand to encourage people to sign up to the electoral register and to answer any specific voting registration or elections queries.

Voter registration forms are being delivered to every home in the city this month and, under government legislation, people need to confirm annually that their details are correct, or amend the forms if their details have changed in order to be able to vote in next year’s elections.

If people's details have changed, they should correct their voter registration form and return it to the council as soon as possible.

People also need to contact the council to confirm that their details have not changed.

This can be done quickly and easily via one of the following methods: online at www.registerbyinternet.com/preston, by calling the voter registration line on 0800 197 9861 or by sending a text message to 80212 and following the instructions.

A second campaign event will take place in September.

Susan Harrison, head of electoral services, said: “It’s crucial that people sign up to the electoral register to ensure they have the opportunity to vote in the elections next year.

“Voting is about having your say and participating in local democracy, and if you don’t register you will lose your vote.

“We want to encourage people to send their forms back without delay, and if you don’t return your form before 15 October, you are reminded that a council officer will be visiting you at home to obtain the necessary information.”