Stroud District Council Press Releases

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Make sure you're ready to vote!

Release Date: 27 March 2012

With a third of district and parish elections taking place on Thursday 3rd May, Stroud District Council is urging residents to make sure that they are ready to cast their vote. Whilst polling cards will be sent to almost 67,000 registered voters in the district during the first week of April, the council is keen to ensure that anyone entitled to vote does not miss out.

David Hagg, Stroud District Council Chief Executive and Returning Officer for the local elections, said:

'If you have just moved into the district or moved house within the district, please do remember to register. It is not too late.'

The deadline for registering to vote is 5pm on 18 April 2012 Residents can request a registration form by calling the Stroud District Council elections office, during office hours, on 01453 754886 or by printing off a registration form at www.stroud.gov.uk/elections.

The deadline for postal vote applications, or to amend a postal vote, is 5pm on 18 April 2012 Shortly after this date, on 23 April 2012, postal voting papers will be sent out to everyone who has requested this option.

The deadline to apply for a proxy vote, ie having someone place a vote on your behalf, is a week later, 5pm on 25 April 2012.

All application forms can be downloaded from www.stroud.gov.uk/elections or be obtained by calling the elections office.

Mr Hagg added:

'With the May Bank Holiday coming up, residents may also be planning to be away on election day so they may wish to opt to vote by post or apply for a proxy vote, however I would urge them to register sooner rather than later as we are always inundated with last minute requests. You can't vote if you're not registered, and contrary to what some people believe, you won't be automatically registered if you pay council tax. We urge all residents to ensure they are on the electoral roll as soon as possible in order to avoid any disappointment.'

A third of the district council seats will be contested this year, and a third of parish/town councils have vacancies. Potential district council candidates should contact the district council for a nomination pack. Anyone wishing to stand as a candidate for their parish or town should contact their local parish or town council.

The list of candidates standing in local elections will be published on Tuesday 10 April 2012. Anyone wishing to stand must ensure that their completed nomination is received by the Returning Officer by midday on Wednesday 4 April 2012.

Anyone who is unsure if they are registered to vote should call the elections team on 01453 754886 or email elections@stroud.gov.uk

Background information:

District council elections are due to take place in:

Amberley and Woodchester

Berkeley

Cainscross

Chalford

Coaley and Uley (by-election)

Dursley

Eastington and Standish

Hardwicke

Kingswood

Minchinhampton

Nailsworth

Painswick

Rodborough

Severn

Stonehouse

The Stanleys

Upton St Leonards

Wotton-Under-Edge

Parish councils with vacancies are:

Brookthorpe-with-Whaddon

Chalford (Hill Ward) (by-election)

Cranham

Eastington

Frocester

Harescombe

Hillesley and Tresham (Hillesley Ward)

Hillesley and Tresham (Tresham Ward )

Kings Stanley

Kingswood

Leonard Stanley

Miserden

Moreton Valence

Painswick (Edge Ward)

Painswick (Painswick Ward)

Painswick (Sheepscombe Ward)

Painswick (Slad Ward)

Pitchcombe

Standish

Upton St Leonards

Woodchester

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