Article: Are you one of the missing 2,000?
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Barnsley Council is urging everyone in the borough to make sure that they do not lose their right to vote in this years local government elections.
The council wants everyone who has not yet got their name down on to the Electoral Register to do so by the Wednesday 18 April. If they leave it any later then they wont be able to vote in the elections.
The number of Barnsley people now on the Electoral Register stands at about 180,000 people or about 99 percent of the adult population. That means that there could still be up to 2,000 adults who, for whatever reason are not yet registered to vote. But unless they register soon then they wont be able to vote in May.
Some of those who are not registered will be people who have moved house and not realised that they have to let the council know. Others will be newcomers to the borough, who may not realise that they are even eligible to vote. For example, citizens of other European Union member states who live in Barnsley can vote in the May local elections, but only if they are on the Electoral Register.
The council has launched a campaign to encourage everyone who has not yet registered to do so. Promotional messages encouraging people to get their names on to the Electoral Register are going to be run at all the Barnsley Connects offices urging people to register by the 18 April. One of these messages will be targeted specifically at EU citizens who now live in Barnsley; with one version of the message in English and the other in Polish (the Polish community is by far the largest group of EU citizens living in the borough).
Commenting on the campaign, the Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Jim Andrews, said; I think it is great news that so many Barnsley people have got their names on the Electoral Register, and will make sure that they keep their right to vote. Nearly 99 percent of Barnsley people are now on the Electoral Register, which is excellent. But we want to get it as close to 100 percent as we can, so that no one loses out. Thats why we want everyone who has not yet registered, who has moved house or moved in to the borough to contact us so that we can make sure they can vote in May.
Anyone who does not know whether they are registered, can contact the elections helpline on (01226) 773070.
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