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News

Election 2007 - Changes To Voting Process

Local elections for Poole will be held on May 3 2007 and Borough of Poole is highlighting important changes to the election process which will make it easier for residents to register their vote.

The election offers people the chance to have their say on who runs Borough of Poole. The Council has 42 seats which represent the Borough’s 16 wards. Local elections were last held four years ago, in May 2003.

Key changes to this year’s elections aim to increasing the number of people who vote, improve access to polling stations and extend openness and transparency.

The changes, brought about by the Electoral Administration Act 2006 , include:

• Extending polling hours from 7am to 10pm on election day
• Reducing the minimum age for candidates from 21 to 18.
• Extending the closing date for postal votes and deadline to register to vote to April 18.

Postal votes can be handed into polling stations on the day of the election and children will also be able to accompanying parents and guardians go to polling stations to vote.

Other changes include the appointment of emergency proxies up until 5 pm on polling day and new techniques to increase registration, such as Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) calling on non-responding properties at least once.

Paul Morris, Electoral Registration and Returning Officer, Borough of Poole, said: “These changes are in line with the Borough of Poole’s commitment to consistency and fairness throughout the voting and election process.“

Lisa Gaskell, Communications Co-ordinator
Tel: 01202 633060