More voters opt to vote by post

Wyre Forest District Council has announced that the number of registered electors for Worcestershire County Council election on Thursday 4 May is 77,569, compared to the 77,906 people who were registered to vote in the last county elections in 2013.

Many voters have taken advantage of the option to have a postal vote, with 12,036 of the electorate choosing this method. This is a significant increase compared to 10,327 who registered to vote by post in 2013.

As well as the Worcestershire County Council election, there is one vacant District Council seat in the Mitton ward of Stourport-on-Severn, a vacant seat on Kidderminster Town Council (Foley Park & Hoobrook ward) and two vacancies on Stourport Town Council (Areley Kings West ward and Stour & Wilden ward). In Churchill & Blakedown a Neighbourhood Plan Referendum is taking place.

Ian Miller, Electoral Registration and Returning Officer said:

"It is now too late for people to register to vote in Wyre Forest at the elections on 4 May or to apply for a postal or proxy vote. Only people who are experiencing a medical emergency or are prohibited from voting in person due to their occupation, service or employment can apply to appoint a proxy. Their applications must be counter-signed and there are specific rules on who can do this for them.They can apply up until 5pm on Thursday 4 May."

“We are asking anyone who has opted to vote by post to return their ballot papers in good time to arrive on or before Thursday 4 May. So far we’ve had around 52% of postal votes returned. ”

Anyone who will be casting their vote at a polling station is being reminded to check their poll card to find out where they should go to vote.

The count will start on the morning of Friday 5 May.  The results will be uploaded to the Council’s website – www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk and posted on Facebook and Twitter as they are declared.

More information about the elections is available on the Council’s website. www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/elections