Elections: Register now before it's too late

Time is running out for people to register to vote in next month's Exeter City Council elections.

Anyone not yet on the electoral register has until next Monday (18 April) to apply. Failure to do so will mean they will not be able to vote.

On Thursday 5 May voters in Exeter will go to the polls for City Council elections as well as the election of a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Devon and Cornwall.

It is the first time since 2000 that all 39 councillors will be elected on the same night. This follows a review of the electoral wards in Exeter so that they are better balanced across the city .

"The biggest change on the day will be that everyone will be able to vote for up to three councillors instead of one, as we are electing everyone at once," said John Street, Electoral Registration Officer for the City Council. "There are a total of 137 candidates standing across the city with numbers ranging from eight in some wards to 13 in others."

In each ward, the candidate who returns the most votes will be elected for four years, with the runner-up getting three years and the third placed candidate elected for two years. This will enable the City Council to return to its tradition of 'thirds' in 2018.  A full list of the candidates can be found at www.exeter.gov.uk

Local government elections select councillors who are responsible for making decisions on running services in the local area. This includes parks, leisure, housing, planning and waste management.

The new Police and Crime Commissioner will be elected by the supplementary voting system, where electors can choose their first and second choice candidates. The Police and Crime Commissioner oversees the running of local police forces, including appointing the Chief Constable, setting the local budget and deciding what the priorities should be for the police in their area.

Registering is easy and people can apply online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote in just a few minutes. People will need their date of birth and national insurance number.

Those who would prefer can still apply using a paper form. The form can be downloaded from the registration site or alternatively be requested from the City Council. Contact 01392 265141.