Upcoming Elections (scroll down for full details)

Rochford District Council would like to remind residents that April 14 is the final day to register to vote in the elections on May 5.
A referendum on the voting system for UK Parliamentary elections will also take place on Thursday 5 May 2011 alongside the District and Parish Elections.
Elections for Rochford District Council will be held in the following wards:

The wards of Ashingdon & Canewdon, Barling & Sutton and Foulness & Great Wakering are uncontested.
There will also be elections for the following Parish Councils:

All other Parishes are uncontested.
April 14 is a key date for people wishing to vote. Registering to vote gives you a chance to elect your local council representatives, and have your say about how your District is run.
Rochford District Council is also pleased to announce that it is running its highly successful Election Alarm Clock again.
The Election Alarm Clock is a convenient way to keep up to date with all the information regarding upcoming elections.
To sign up for this service visit: www.rochford.gov.uk/electionalarmclock
Fill in your details as requested and click ‘submit’. That’s it! Once you have done this you will start to receive election alerts.
For more information on this year’s Elections and how to register to vote visit: www.rochford.gov.uk/elections
Application forms can be downloaded from the Council’s website www.rochford.gov.uk or you can contact the Election Office Helpline by telephone on 01702 318187.

If you do not register you will not be allowed to vote in the upcoming elections and referendum.

How can I have my say in the elections and referendum votes?
With District and Parish elections as well a referendum on the voting system for UK Parliamentary elections coming up on May 5, Rochford District Council is reminding residents about the different ways they can have their say.
There are several Bank Holidays in the run-up to this year’s elections so residents may not be in the District on May 5, but this doesn’t mean they have to miss out.
There are three different ways you can vote. How you vote is up to you. It may depend on what you find the easiest or most convenient method. Most people vote in person at a polling station. However, if you are not able to go to the polling station in person on May 5, you can apply to vote by post or by proxy.
Voting at a Polling Station
Most people in the UK choose to cast their vote in person at a local polling station. Voting at a polling station is very straightforward and there is always a member of staff available to help if you're not sure what to do.
If you are on the electoral register, you will receive a poll card before the election telling you where and when to vote. The polling station is often a school or local hall near where you live. The poll card is for your information only, and you do not need to take it to the polling station in order to vote.
Voting By Post
To vote by post, you must be on the electoral register. You need to fill in a postal vote application form, available on our website - www.rochford.gov.uk or from the elections office on 01702 318187.  After completing the form, you’ll need to sign it, and send it back to the electoral registration office. The closing date for applications for the elections on May 5 is April 14.
You need to sign your application form personally because the electoral registration office needs a copy of your signature for voting security reasons.
Voting by Proxy
Voting by proxy is a convenient way of voting if you are unable to get to the polling station. By proxy just means that you appoint someone you trust to vote on your behalf. It can be particularly useful if you are overseas in a country too far away to send back a postal vote in time for the election (for instance, if you are in the Armed Forces and deployed overseas).
To vote by proxy, you’ll need to fill in an application form. You need to sign your application form personally because the electoral registration office needs a copy of your signature for voting security reasons.
Your form needs to be returned by April 21 if you want a proxy vote for the elections on May 5.

Whether you vote in person, by post or proxy, it is essential that you register to vote by April 14. If you do not register, you will not be allowed to vote in the upcoming elections and referendum.
Registering to vote gives you a chance to elect your local council representatives, and have your say about how your District is run.
Application forms can be downloaded from the Council’s website www.rochford.gov.uk or you can contact the Election Office Helpline by telephone on 01702 318187.