Register by 5pm Today To Vote

by Katy Murcutt - Paralegal

20 April 2010, filed under Consumer

The deadline to register to vote and add your name to the list of electors is at 5pm today. In order to be able to vote in the General Election on Thursday 6th May 2010 you must have registered in order to be able to participate in local polls.

If you have been unable to register your vote, you should contact your local council authority or contact the Electoral Commission’s helpline.

On voting day, local polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm. A card is then sent to each individual detailing the details of your local polling station, opening times and contact information.

You are able to choose whether you vote in person or by post. Many elderly people choose to vote by post for convenience. If you are voting by post, you should the deadline with you local authority as this may differ to the date of the General Election.

It is common for people with more than one address at which they are resident to register at each of these addresses. This will not allow you to cast more than one vote, but you shall be able to vote at your local polling station depending on the address you chose to register with. This option is most often used by students and people living in rented accommodation.

It is an offence to vote more than once in the General Election. However, in contrast, during a local election those who are registered at more than one address may vote in each area they have a property in which they reside.

Citizens of the European Union who are resident in the United Kingdom will be unable to vote in the general Election, even though they are permitted to vote in a local election.

The Office of National Statistics recorded more than 44 million people registering to vote ahead of this year’s General Election back in January.

According to the Electoral Commission Report in 2005 just over 90% of those who had registered to vote were resident in England and Wales. However, the last General Election saw just 61% of those who had registered turn out to vote. This was one of the lowest recorded turnouts ever.

To register to vote in the General Election, visit www.aboutmyvote.co.uk by 5pm tonight.