Make sure you’re on the electoral register to have your say in May

Elections will be held in all wards except Fence & Higham and Brierfield West & Reedley on Thursday 7 May. 

Dean Langton, Chief Executive and Returning Officer at Pendle Borough Council, said: “These elections are an opportunity for residents to have their say on who represents them on Pendle Borough Council.

“We encourage as many people as possible to make sure they are registered and able to vote in May.”

Andrea Mullin, Elections and Registration Manager, stressed: To be able to vote you must be on the electoral register.

“It’s particularly important for anyone who has recently turned 18 or moved home to make sure you’re registered to vote at your current address.”

The deadline to register is midnight on Monday 20 April and it takes just five minutes to do it online - www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

If you were registered to vote in the last election and your details have not changed, you don’t need to do anything.

Residents can check if they are on the electoral register by visiting Number One Market Street in Nelson.

Alternatively, they can call (01282) 661662 or 661919 or email elections@pendle.gov.uk and staff in the Elections Team will confirm this.

There are a number of ways to vote:

• In person at a polling station
• By postal vote
• By appointing someone you trust to vote in your place, known as a proxy vote.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April and applications for a proxy vote must be submitted by 5pm on Wednesday 28 April.

You can do this online by visiting www.pendle.gov.uk/vote   

Andrea added: “If you plan to vote in person at a polling station you will need to bring an accepted form of photo ID such as a passport or driving licence.

“Anyone without an accepted form of photo ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.”

Details of accepted photo ID and how to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate are available on the Council’s website www.pendle.gov.uk/voterid