Plea to register for vote in May's Scottish Parliament elections
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VOTERS who wish to take part in May's elections for the Scottish Parliament have been urged to make sure they are on the electoral register.
The deadline for registering is midnight on Monday, April 19.
The Electoral Officer for Highland and the Western Isles made the plea and stressed that if your name is not on the register you will not be able to vote.
The elections take place on Thursday, May 6 and will determine which candidates get seats in Holyrood in Edinburgh.
The parliament has powers to make laws for Scotland in a range of areas including health, education, housing, justice and the environment.
Bill Gillies, Electoral Registration Officer for Highland & Western Isles said: "This is an opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly affect your day-to-day. If you’re not registered by 19 April, you won’t be able to vote.
"If you were registered to vote in the last election and your details have not changed, you don’t need to take any action. If in doubt, you can contact us on 0800 393 783."
Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland, said: "You can’t have your say in these important elections unless you are registered to vote. It’s quick and easy – it takes just five minutes online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
"It doesn’t matter where you were born, if you are aged 16 or over and live in Scotland then you can now vote in the Scottish Parliament election. But only if you have registered to vote first."
Voters have a range of options for casting their ballot – in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote. For those who choose to vote in person, polling stations will be following all public health guidance on 6 May.
The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 6 April, and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on 27 April.
