Don’t lose your vote!

Local residents are being urged to check their electoral registration details or risk losing their chance to vote on decisions that affect them.

The Electoral Registration Officer will be getting in touch with every household to check that the electoral register is up to date, and to identify any residents who should be registered but are currently missing.

Darryl Rae, Electoral Registration Officer for Orkney & Shetland, said: “Keep an eye out for our letter. The annual canvass is our way of making sure that the information on the electoral register for every address is accurate. To make sure you don’t lose your say at the next election, look out for instructions from us.

“If you don’t hear from us, you might not be on the register. If you want to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.”

Recent home movers in particular are urged to check their details. Electoral Commission research has found that recent home movers are less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time. It is also important to note that all nationalities are eligible to vote in local elections in Scotland.

Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland, said: “It’s really important that everyone who is eligible to vote is able to do so. We urge people to look out for updates from their Electoral Registration Officer on this year’s canvass. If you are not registered to vote, make sure you provide the necessary information to your Electoral Registration Officer when asked and register to vote online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.”

Information on registering to vote is available on the Electoral Commission website.

Any residents who have questions can contact the Electoral Registration Office at 8 Broad Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NX.  Tel: (01856) 876222 or Email: ero@orkney.gov.uk