Residents Risk Missing Out on Election Vote

RESIDENTS who have not yet registered to vote risk missing out on having their say if a General Election takes place over the coming months.

With Council and Police Commissioner Elections planned for May next year – and the possibility of a General Election being called earlier than that – Reading Borough Council is stepping up its push to ensure as many residents as possible get the opportunity to have their say. Around 46,000 residents out of 73,000 have who were sent household enquiry forms back in July have returned them. It means residents not currently on the Electoral Register risk losing their vote unless they take action. First reminder letters were sent out last month and a second reminder letter is now being delivered by door to door canvassers to all outstanding addresses, to encourage people who have not yet returned their forms to get them back to the Council as quickly as possible.

Christopher Brooks, Electoral Registration Returning Officer at Reading Borough Council, said:

“The possibility of a General Election being called brings even more into focus the need for people who have not yet completed their household enquiry form to return it to the Council as quickly as possible. “An initial enquiry form was sent out in July with a reminder letter last month. A second reminder is now being delivered to all addresses which have so far failed to respond. “If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear on the forms that have been sent out. If you want to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, or we’ll send you information explaining how to do this in the post. If a General Election is called, anyone not on the electoral register by the registration deadline at the time will not be able to vote for their Government of choice.” Any residents who have any questions can contact their local registration team at elections@reading.gov.uk or on 0118 937 3717.