Woking residents encouraged to use their right to vote

22 February 2010

Please note: these pages contain archived information. Whilst the details were correct when first published, they may since have 'aged' and some of the information could be out-of-date. For this reason, links in the content of archive news stories have been disabled.

Woking residents who are keen to have a say on important issues that affect the place in which they live and work are being encouraged to ensure that they use their right to vote on Election Day, Thursday 6 May 2010.

This year, elections to Woking Borough Council will be held in twelve of the Borough's seventeen wards. There will also be a UK Parliamentary (General) Election. Although no date has been set for this election as yet, there is a possibility that it will be combined with the Borough elections on 6 May 2010.

Over the next fortnight (from week commencing Monday 22 February), a special information leaflet produced by Woking Borough Council will be sent to every household in Woking Borough and to those in Pirbright and Normandy who are in the Woking County Constituency, advising residents about what will happen on the lead up to Election Day and providing important background information about both elections.

But the Council is keen to stress that people need to be on the Electoral Register to secure their right to vote. People who are unsure of whether they are on the Electoral Register, should call Woking Borough Council's Elections Team on 01483 755855. Anyone who is not currently on the register will simply need to complete a voter registration form and return it to the Civic Offices as soon as possible but no later than Tuesday 20 April 2010.

Those people who are eligible to vote but are unable to get to a polling station on 6 May can arrange to have either a postal vote or a proxy vote, where someone else is able to vote on their behalf. Applications for postal votes and for amending existing proxy vote arrangements should be completed as soon as possible but no later than Tuesday 20 April 2010.

Speaking about the forthcoming elections, Ray Morgan, Woking Borough Council's Returning Officer, said: "We are very keen to remind local people that voting is one of the most effective ways of making sure that their voices are heard by decision-makers in the local area and the wider community.

We have produced a comprehensive information leaflet to guide residents through the process and we hope that as many people as possible will decide to use their democratic right and vote for candidates in both the Woking Borough and UK Parliamentary (General) Elections."

For further information or to obtain voter registration forms and postal or proxy vote applications, please contact the Elections Team on 01483 755855, email elections@woking.gov.uk or visit the Woking Borough Council website www.woking.gov.uk

Additional information

About the Woking Borough elections

Woking Borough Council is comprised of 36 Councillors. The Council is elected by thirds - twelve Councillors stand for election, usually on the first Thursday in May, every three out of four years (the fourth year is the County Council elections). Each Councillor is elected for four years.

On Thursday 6 May, elections to Woking Borough Council are scheduled to be held in Byfleet, Goldsworth East, Goldsworth West, Hermitage and Knaphill South, Horsell West, Knaphill, Maybury and Sheerwater, Mayford and Sutton Green, Mount Hermon East, Mount Hermon West, St Johns and Hook Heath and West Byfleet. For further information, please visit www.woking.gov.uk

About the UK Parliamentary (General) Election

Woking Borough is part of the Woking County Constituency, which is represented by one Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons. The Woking County Constituency covers all wards in Woking Borough and also two wards in Guildford Borough - Normandy and Pirbright. General Elections must be held every five years at most, though there is no set timetable for calling an election. The political party that has the largest number of MPs in the House of Commons will form the UK government, with the party leader becoming the Prime Minister.

All British, Republic of Ireland and qualifying Commonwealth citizens are entitled to vote in General Elections. Citizens of European Union member states are not entitled to vote in General Elections. For further information, visit www.parliament.uk