Published Monday, 1st February 2016

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is encouraging anyone not yet registered to vote, to take advantage of National Voter Registration Drive (#NVRD) this week and go online now to register.

On Thursday 5 May 2016 voters in Reigate & Banstead will go to the polls to elect local councillors and a Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey. Anyone who isn’t registered to vote won’t be able to take part and have their say.

The deadline to register to vote in these elections is Monday 18 April 2016. Whilse there is still time, it’s running out quickly. The good news is that it only takes a few minutes to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. It’s a chance to join the thousands of people across the UK being encouraged to register this week.

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is using this week to encourage more young people to register to vote and will be running a registration drive at East Surrey College.

John Jory, Electoral Registration Officer for Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, said: “Anyone not yet registered to vote should do so as soon as possible so they can have their say on issues that affect their day-to-day lives. I’d urge people living in Reigate & Banstead to use National Voter Registration Drive to spread the message amongst family and friends that it only takes a few minutes to register to vote online.”

Ben Brook, Head of Performance and English Regional Teams at the Electoral Commission, said: “National Voter Registration Drive exists because it’s important that anyone who’s eligible, but has not yet registered to vote, does so. It’s easy and quick to do online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Young people, students and people who move frequently are much less likely to be registered to vote so #NVRD is as important as ever.”

Residents who don’t have access to the internet can get a paper copy of the registration form by contacting the electoral registration office on 01737 276794.

Registering to vote also helps to keep your credit reference up to date. Credit reference agencies will often check the electoral register when you apply for a bank account, loan or mobile phone contract.

National Voter Registration Drive runs from 1 to 7 February 2016 and is led by Bite the Ballot (www.bitetheballot.co.uk) who aim to ensure that young people are engaged in political process and inspired to become change-makers.