West Lothian voters urged to register for election

Feb 11 2010 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

VOTERS are being urged to make sure they are geared up for this year’s General Election.

The election must be held anytime on, or before, June 3.

And expert voter awareness staff will be on hand at Almondvale Shopping Centre between February 22 and 26 to help explain the process of registering and voting in the next election.

Advisers will be available between 11am and 4pm.

The first step is checking that you are registered to vote at your current address. The team can help you check and if you need to register they can help with that too.

If you are aged 18 on the date the election is called you can also vote.

It is possible to register to vote before you are 18 so the team will be able to provide advice on this.

If you are going on holiday between now and June 3, you might consider registering for a Postal Vote, then you can relax and know that you have been able to participate.

West Lothian’s Returning Officer Alex Linkston is advising residents who have moved house that their chance to vote in this year’s General Election may have been lost in the move.

“When you change address, you need to re-register with your new details,” explains Mr Linkston.

“Just because you are paying council tax at your new address doesn’t automatically mean that you will be on the electoral register at that address – you need to contact us separately. This applies whether you have bought your home, or whether you are renting.

“The Voter Awareness Team are keen to speak to anyone who would like to know more about voting at the next election. They will also be able to help with checking the register, registering to vote and postal voting,” added Mr Linkston.

You can check whether you are registered on the electoral roll by telephoning the Electoral Registration Office on 0131 344 2500 or by visiting you local Council Information Services (CIS) centre.

More information is available on the council’s website www.westlothian.gov.uk/aboutmyvote