On Thursday 5 May people in Blaenau Gwent will have their say on who represents them on their local council.
In order to vote in May, residents must be on the electoral register. With the deadline to register to vote fast approaching, Blaenau Gwent Council is urging people who are not registered at their current address to make sure they are registered in time.
The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Thursday 14 April. It takes just five minutes to apply online at gov.uk/register-to-vote.
This year residents in Blaenau Gwent will be voting to select councillors, who represent their local area and residents, and contribute to the development of policies in areas such as transport, social care and housing.
Andrea Jones, Electoral Registration Officer for Blaenau Gwent Council said:
“Time is running out to make sure you can take part in these elections. They are an important opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Blaenau Gwent. If you’re not registered by 14 April, you won’t be able to vote.”
Rhydian Thomas, Head of the Electoral Commission Wales, said:
“You can’t have your say in these elections unless you are registered to vote. Registering is easy and only takes five minutes.
“If you have recently turned 16 or moved home, it is particularly important to make sure you are correctly registered to vote.
“If you were registered to vote in the last election and your details have not changed, you don’t need to take any action. If in doubt, you can check with your local authority on 01495 355086.’
People can choose to vote in a number of ways – in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote.
The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 19 April, and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on 26 April.
For information on elections in their area, how to register to vote, or how to apply to vote by post or by proxy, voters can visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter. This page will continue to be updated ahead of the polls.
