5th October 2008
WHY NOT HAVE YOUR SAY?
That is the question being asked by Donna Hutton, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Clwyd West constituency. She has been out and about to urge everyone to register to have their vote.
Mrs Hutton said:
“If you are not on the Electoral Register you cannot vote in any election. That means you have no say on housing, education, crime policies or anything else.
“It also means you get no say over who is your MP, Assembly Member or Councillor, however much you support or oppose those people.
“There are other practical reasons to register. For instance, banks, building societies and loan companies use the Register to verify the address you give them, so it can be hard to get credit if you are not on it.
“I know some people think that if they are on the list of people charged for Council Tax then you are automatically registered to vote, which is incorrect. And if people are worried about getting more junk mail or cold calling, you can opt to go on the “private” Register that is not for general sale.
“It sounds like a cliché to say “people died so we can live in a democracy where we have the right to vote”, but it is true. That was just 60 years ago, not ancient history.
“And when it comes down to it, most people have opinions on matters that affect them, so why would they not want their views taken into account?”
Registering to vote is simple: a form can be obtained from Conwy County Borough Council on 01492 574000, from Denbighshire County Council on 01824 706000, by clicking here or by going to the Electoral Commission website.
ENDS.