Remember to register, your vote counts

Properties in Orkney which have not yet responded to their annual Electoral Registration Household Enquiry form will now have received a reminder urging them to do so.

Dennis Stevenson, electoral registration officer for Orkney, said: “If you receive a reminder it is important that you respond to it and confirm if there have been changes to the household.  It is equally important to respond even if the details remain the same or if a property remains vacant.

“This form is very important in that it should give details of all the residents in the property. Completing this form is now the first part of a two stage process for any new electors in a property. All newly added electors must also register individually to give the additional details that the process now requires. The household form gives details of how this should be done and I would encourage electors to use the facility to do this online rather than by the completion of a further paper form issued by this office.”

The voting age for Scottish Parliamentary and local government elections has now been reduced to 16. To allow these young voters to be included in these elections from next year, the details of 14 and 15-year-old residents in the property should also be included when completing the household form.

Households can respond online, by text or phone, or by returning the form by post. For more information, contact the Electoral Registration Office at 8 Broad Street, Kirkwall, telephone 01856 876222 or email ero@orkney.gov.uk.