People living in Exeter are being urged to complete their electoral registration forms so that they can vote in next year’s local elections and possible referendum on the voting system.
More than 50,000 forms went out to all homes in the city at the start of September, followed by reminders in early October. However, there are still 20,000 households which have not completed a return.
This is the final step in compiling and updating the 2011 Register of Electors for Exeter. People who fail to complete and return the form won’t be included on the Register and will lose their right to vote.
Jeff Chalk, Electoral Services manager told the Devon Week: ”The council is obliged by law to contact each household to ensure that all eligible electors have the right to vote. If a form isn’t returned then we have to send an officer to make a personal visit to that property. Obviously this is a costly exercise and people can help us reduce these costs by sending in their forms as quickly as possible. We still need forms to be sent back even if there is no one eligible to register.”
He added: “It’s also worth remembering that the Register is used by financial bodies in the process of granting credit, and as well as missing out on the opportunity to vote, an individual may find it difficult to open a bank account, for example.”
Anyone in Exeter who hasn’t received a form should contact the Electoral Services Office on 01392 265141.
(from a press release)
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