Maidenhead & Windsor

Maidenhead Royal Borough residents who want to vote in next May's local government elections are being given an important reminder to make sure their names are on the electoral register – if not, they won't be able to back the party or person of their choice on election day.

More than 58,000 annual register of elector forms are about to be distributed to homes across the Maidenhead, borough and this year the council is including sms texting along with the internet and freephone to make it easier than ever to respond.

The forms not only give people the opportunity to check their registration details are correct but also to request postal voting application forms and to opt out of the version of the electoral register available to commercial organisations for marketing purposes.

Householders receiving a registration form should:

* check the information on the form is correct, if not
* make any corrections needed using the guidance notes enclosed and then
* get the form back to council's electoral registration team.

Where there are changes to the pre-printed details and/or requests for postal voting, responses should be made by post using the pre-paid envelope enclosed.

Correct information can be confirmed by using freephone 0800 025 0900, SMS text back to 07797 898 710 or by logging on to www.electorregistration.co.uk/rbwm and using the two security codes printed on the form.

Cllr Mary Rose Gliksten, Maidenhead council leader, said it was vitally important that everyone eligible to vote should make sure their names are on the register.

She said: "Having a say in who represents you in local, national and European government is a fundamental right for everyone eligible to vote – yet so many people fail to make sure they are on the register, which is their passport to having a say in how their money is spent on services in their communities, their country and much further afield.

"When an election comes around the council's electoral services team takes many calls from people who have been turned away from polling stations because they haven't made sure their names are registered – but at that stage it's too late to do anything.

"This annual canvass is a simple way of checking everything is in order so that, come the next election, residents can vote for the party or person they want to represent them."

Residents should check their names are on the register when it is published on December 1. It will be available for inspection at York House, Sheet Street, Windsor, the Town Hall, Maidenhead, and the main libraries in Windsor and Maidenhead.

Anyone who moves house after they have completed the canvass form or later in the year should remember to change their entry by contacting the electoral registration office for a form or printing one from the website. Entries cannot be changed from council tax or other council records.

Further information is available from the electoral registration office on 01628 796516 or visit the council's website at www.rbwm.gov.uk

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead