17 JANUARY 2007 - OVER 15,000 electors in the Harrogate District are already registered to receive a postal vote for elections on or after 3 May 2007.  As they will be affected by new Government rules on the way postal votes are validated they will be receiving letters from the council's Electoral Returning Officer explaining what action they need to take to make sure they can use their postal vote.

 

Previously, those using a postal vote (otherwise as known as an absent vote) simply had to have their declaration of identity witnessed by a family member or friend which they then returned with their ballot paper. 

 

These new rules, which have been introduced to reduce the risk of election fraud, now mean that they will have to provide details of their date of birth as well as a specimen signature. This will be known as Personal Identifier Information and will be securely stored and compared with when postal votes are returned.

 

Peter Jordan, Head of Legal and Democratic Services, said:  "It is very important that those already registered for a postal vote respond to our letter and provide the information requested.  If they do not, they will not be entitled to vote in this way at forthcoming elections.  We would urge them to return the forms quickly.  Although the Government has given them until 2 March, it is also insisting that we send reminders three weeks after the original letters are dispatched.  If anyone has difficulty reading or understanding the information they are being sent, they should telephone the electoral registration office where help will be available."

 

The telephone number for the electoral registration office is 01423 556011.

 

Anyone requesting a postal from now will only receive one if they provide the Personal Identifier Information.

 

The changes aim to provide more protection for postal voters and make postal voting more secure.  They are being introduced throughout the country and, as part of the campaign to raise awareness, the Government has devised a logo Keep Your Vote Safe.

 

The next local government elections will take place on Thursday, 3 May.  There are currently 115,000 people on the Electoral Register in the Harrogate District.  ENDS