Countdown to elections has begun

The countdown has begun to European parliamentary and local elections on Thursday 22 May.

More than five million people across North West England will have the opportunity to vote in European elections to select the region’s eight Members of the European Parliament (MEPs.)

At the same time, electors in the Blackburn with Darwen area will be choosing their local councillors.

Voters go to the polls on Thursday 22 May for both local and European elections. The Blackburn with Darwen local election results count and declaration will take place on Friday, May 23 and the North West European elections count and declaration on Sunday 25 May, as polls close across Europe.

People will not be able to vote in either election unless they have ensured they are on the electoral register by Tuesday 6 May.

Anyone who is on the electoral register can choose to register to vote by post. Applications for a postal vote in the forthcoming elections must also be received by 5pm on Wednesday 7 May.

Poll cards for those who are already on the electoral register will begin to be delivered from Tuesday 15 April, so people who are registered should look out for theirs in the post.

Anyone who is not registered should contact the Elections Office to request a registration form. Alternatively, or if they need to update their details (for example if they have changed address or changed surname through marriage since registering) or check whether they are on the register, they should email voting@blackburn.gov.uk or call 01254 585920.

Registration is a quick and easy process.

A full list of candidates for the European Parliamentary Elections will be published at 5pm on Thursday 24 April. A full list of candidates for Blackburn with Darwen elections will be published Friday 25 April.

Sir Howard Bernstein, Regional Returning Officer for the European Parliamentary Elections in the North West, said: “This election gives people the chance to elect the politicians who will represent them in Europe. It is essential to make sure that nobody loses out on their right to vote because they are not registered.”

Harry Catherall, returning officer for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “The right to vote in elections is a fundamental part of living in an open and democratic society. I would urge all residents to exercise that freedom and have their say. If you don’t vote, you don’t have a say in how things are run.”