RESIDENTS across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are being urged to register to vote ahead of upcoming local elections.

With residents set to have their say on who represents them at the elections on Thursday, May 4, BCP Council is reminding those who are not yet registered at their current address to make sure they do before it is too late.

The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday, April 17.

This year residents in the BCP area will be voting to select:

  • Councillors, who represent their local area and residents, and help shape the future of their local area by making plans and taking decisions.
  • Parish councillors, who make decisions on local issues affecting their parish and act as ambassadors for their community.

Matt Pitcher, electoral services head at BCP Council, said: “Local elections are an important opportunity to have a say on who makes decisions about issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in our area.

“If you have recently turned 18 or moved home, it is particularly important to make sure you are correctly registered to vote.”

Bournemouth Echo: Bournemouth Town Hall.Bournemouth Town Hall. (Image: Echo)

Those intending to vote at polling stations in May will also need to show photographic identification for the first time.

A list of accepted forms of ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website.

Those who do not have eligible ID can apply for free voter authority certificate. The best way to do this is by visiting voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk online.

Ailsa Irvine, director of electoral administration and guidance at the Electoral Commission, said: “If you’re not registered by 17 April, you will not be able to vote this May. Registering to vote only takes five minutes and can be done online.

“This year voters should also remember that they will need to bring photo ID to the polling station to be able to vote. Anyone that does not have an accepted form of ID can apply for free voter ID by 25 April.”

If in doubt, BCP Council can be contacted by phone on 01202 123 400 or at elections@bcpcouncil.gov.uk via email.

It takes around five minutes to apply online at: Register to vote - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).