Remember To Sign Up and Renew Your Postal Vote
25th March 2008
Sign up to renew your postal vote or risk losing it. That's the message from Kilmarnock and Loudoun's Labour MP Des Browne. Changes to the rules on postal voting mean that everyone with a postal vote now has to confirm their date of birth and provide a signature, if they want to continue voting by post in future elections. 7090 of Kilmarnock and Loudoun's 73596 voters are registered to vote by post and Des wants to ensure that they don't lose out. Completed forms need to go back to Ayrshire Valuation Joint Board by 28th April 2008. Anyone who doesn't will have their postal ballot cancelled although of course they will still be able to go along to a polling station to vote in person next time there is an election.
Explaining why the changes are being made Des said:
"More and more people across Kilmarnock and Loudoun are choosing to vote by post and I want to make sure that nobody loses out. But at the same time we have to be vigilant against the possibility of voter fraud. The new form is very simple and all you have to do is fill it in and return it in the prepaid envelope provided. Of course postal ballots will still be anonymous and your details will only be used to check the verification form returned with your postal vote. This is opened separately from the ballot paper so your vote will still be secret."
Bridget Kirkwood from Kilmarnock is a dedicated postal voter:
“I’m a big fan of postal votes; I’ve had one for the last two elections. It’s really easy. And, best of all, you can use your vote even if you are too busy to get to the polling station. I’d recommend it to anyone. The application form is straightforward and, once you’ve filled it in, ballot papers go directly to your home address. In fact I’m so keen to ensure I keep my postal vote, that I confirmed my details right away and posted the verification notice the next day.”
Ends
