ELECTIONS: Don't waste your vote

Election officials at the Guildhall are urging postal voters to make sure they read the instructions carefully to make sure their vote counts in May's local elections and referendum.

Over the next few days over 30,000 people across Northampton will receive their postal voting packs.
The pack will include everything needed to cast your vote in both the referendum and Northampton Borough Council elections.

Postal voters can cast their vote at any time, but all ballot papers must be received by the Returning Officer or authorised elections staff by 10pm on Thursday, May 5.

Ballot papers must be received in the correct envelopes provided and, importantly voters must sign each envelope and write down their date of birth.

This will mean your ballot paper is sent to the right count, and council officials can check signatures and dates to prevent electoral fraud.

Returning Officer David Kennedy said: "Every year more and more people register for a postal vote. But at every election, some postal votes are invalid, because the voter either forgot to sign the postal voting statement or wrote down the date they filled it in, rather than their date of birth. 

"This year we will be handling almost 10,000 more postal ballots than the previous Borough Elections. And we would like to make sure each and every postal voter can have their say on who should represent them at the Guildhall and the referendum.

"We’ve provided a guide to completing your postal ballot in your pack, so please do take the time to read it and provide the right information so that we can count your vote."

If you have not received your postal vote by April 26 call Northampton Borough Council's elections team on 0300 330 7000.

For more information about the Borough Council elections visit www.northampton.gov.uk/elections or the election pages of this website.

To find out more about the Referendum on the voting system used to elect MPs to the House of Commons please visit www.aboutmyvote.co.uk