Register to Vote Final Call to Ribble Valley Electors

Ribble Valley goes to the polls in borough and parish council elections on Thursday, 4 May.

And if you want to vote in the elections you must be on the electoral register by midnight on Monday, 17 April.

Borough councillors are responsible for making decisions on running services, such as planning, recycling and refuse collection, sport and leisure, while parish councillors are statutory consultees and take a significant role in negotiating with and influencing other organisations, such as the borough council, health authorities and police.

Ribble Valley Borough Council’s electoral and licensing officer, Jane Horsfield, said: “Local elections are an opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly affect your day-to-day life.

“If you have recently turned 18 or moved home, it is particularly important that you ensure you are registered to vote, which takes just five minutes online.”

If you were registered to vote in the last election and your details have not changed, you will still be registered to vote.

To vote in local elections you must be registered to vote, over 18, living at an address in the area you want to vote in and not excluded from voting.

You must also be a British, Irish or EU citizen, or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen.

You can also vote by post or proxy if you would prefer that to voting in person.

Applications for a new postal vote or to change an existing postal or proxy vote must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, 18 April.

And the deadline for a new proxy vote or voter authority certificate application is 5pm on Tuesday, 25 April.

You can register to vote at gov.uk/register-to-vote or further details are available from Ribble Valley Borough Council’s elections team on 01200 414411.

A full list of borough and parish candidates is available at https://www.ribblevalley.gov.uk/elections-4-may

● Don’t forget you now need photo-ID to vote in person. Polling stations will have private rooms or privacy screens for anyone who does not want to show their face in public. Further information on voter ID and what to do if you do not have photo-ID is available at www.ribblevalley.gov.uk/voter-id