ANYONE not yet registered to vote in May’s elections is being reminded to get on their local electoral register before they close on Monday 18 April.
It only takes a few minutes to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
There are local and police elections in May and Sunderland will be the returning centre for the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner election.
It is the second time that voters in the Northumbria Police force area have gone to the polls for a commissioner. The first commissioner election was held in November 2012.
The election is being held as voters across the area also go to the polls for local government elections in Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, which is also holding a Mayoral Referendum; South Tyneside and Sunderland. In Northumberland voters have a stand-alone election for the police commissioner.
There are more than one million (1,035,492) registered electors in the Northumbria Police Area, including more than 300,000 (323,155) postal voters.
That Northumbria result will be announced from Sunderland on Friday 6 May.
Anyone who has not yet registered to vote should do so by Monday 18 April.
Sue Stanhope, Sunderland City Council’s Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, is the Northumbria Police Area Returning Officer.
She said: “The Northumbria area is one of the largest geographically in the UK with more than one million electors, more than 700 polling stations and preparations are well underway.”
As Police Area Returning Officer she is responsible for the nomination process, collating and declaring the result.
Mrs Stanhope added: “Only people who are registered to vote can take part in May’s elections. People living in the Northumbria Police area need to register to make sure that they don’t miss out on having their say on polling day.
“The quickest way to apply to register is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote it only takes a few minutes. If you prefer you can apply to register over the phone or by completing a paper application form, you can do this by contacting your local Electoral Services Office.”
A list of candidates standing will be available after 4pm on Thursday 7 April 2016. More information about the police and crime commissioner elections is being posted online at: www.choosemypcc.org.uk
Ben Brook, Head of English regions at the Electoral Commission, said: “It’s important that anyone who is eligible to be on the register, but has not yet registered, does so. The deadline to register to vote is Monday 18 April 2016.
“Those who would prefer can still apply using a paper form. The form can be downloaded from the registration site or alternatively be requested from your local electoral services team. Contact your local council and return it by the 18 April registration deadline.”