Council helps residents to register to vote

Blackburn with Darwen Council is writing to residents in the borough to make sure everyone who is eligible to vote is registered.

Parliamentary and local elections take place on May 7 and the Council wants make sure the register is as accurate as possible.

The write out to households will start on February 2.

The letters will detail who in the household is currently registered to vote. If someone isn’t included they will be asked to register now via the new online registration system.

Being registered means you can take part in elections and exercise your democratic right to vote.

The electoral register is also one of the criteria used by credit checking agencies. People not on the register may find it difficult to get a loan, mortgage or mobile phone contract. Other pitfalls include not being eligible to apply for certain jobs, which require security checks or being able to open a bank account.

Harry Catherall, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s returning officer, said:

The right to vote in elections is a fundamental part of living in an open and democratic society. If you are not on the register or your details are incorrect, you won’t be able to vote.  If you don’t vote, you don’t have a say in how things are run.