Shetland residents are reminded to register to vote ahead of the Shetland Islands Council elections that will take place on Thursday 5 May.
Residents must be on the electoral register if they wish to vote on Polling Day. Poll cards have been delivered throughout Shetland in the last few days and with the deadline to register to vote fast approaching, anyone not registered at their current address is urged to make sure they are registered in time.
Anyone living in Scotland and who will be 16 or over on 5 May, can register to vote in these elections. Due to recent changes in the law this also gives foreign nationals who have been resident in Scotland, in some cases for many years, a first opportunity to have a say on who they want to represent them on the Council.
The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 18 April. It takes just five minutes to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
Ian Leslie, Depute Electoral Registration Officer for Orkney & Shetland said:
“Time is running out to make sure you can take part in these elections. They are an important opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Shetland. If you’re not registered by 18 April, you won’t be able to vote.”
Electors can choose to vote in a number of ways – in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote. The deadline for registered electors to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 19 April, and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on 26 April.
For further local guidance on registering to vote or applying for absent votes please contact the Electoral Registration Office at 20 Commercial Road, Lerwick, Tel 01595 745700 or by email
Information for voters is also available on the Electoral Commission website