Don’t lose your vote in 2012

Press Release: 01/08/2012

Letters reminding residents to register to vote will soon be dropping through letterboxes across the borough. Householders are urged to re-register on-line, by phone or by text to reduce the cost of administration, but if you’re unable to access these options or need to make changes to who should be on the register, please return your form by post as soon as possible.

Reminders will be sent to all properties that have not responded by 30 July 2012. If residents do not return the reminder, canvassers will be visiting properties later in August and also in September. It saves additional expenditure if residents return their forms early to avoid a canvasser visit.

Your local Electoral Registration Officer, Roger Tetstall, and his staff use your returned information to compile the next electoral register for Test Valley. If you haven’t received your form by 13 August 2012 you can contact the Electoral Registration Office on 01264 368000 or print one off at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk. The electoral register is being compiled earlier than usual this year. This is due to the Police & Crime Commissioner Elections for Hampshire which will take place on 15 November 2012.

Roger Tetstall said: “Registering to vote is very simple. If your details haven’t changed, you can re-register on-line or by phone or by text. Doing it this way reduces the cost of administration and so saves the council money which we can use to provide other services. It’s also good for the environment. If your details have changed, all you have to do is update the annual registration form with the details of everyone in your household who is eligible to vote and return it to us as soon as possible.

"You need to confirm your details each year. If you can’t register by any other method, complete and return your registration form as soon as possible so that you don’t lose your right to vote. If you do it on-line or by phone or text, please don’t send your registration form back as well”.

When you register to vote you can opt to have your details excluded from the edited register. This will mean your details cannot be bought by individuals and commercial organisations.

For more information, contact your local Electoral Registration Officer at Test Valley Borough Council on 01264 368000.