Make sure your vote counts

Time to make sure you can vote at upcoming local elections.

Lincolnshire County Councillors will be elected for 14 divisions in South Kesteven and 11 in North Kesteven, while voters will also be going to the polls to choose the county’s next Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Chief Executive of South Kesteven District Council, Karen Bradford, will act as Deputy Returning Officer at the elections within her district on Thursday, May 6.

She said: “The majority of our residents are registered but there are those who have not yet done so. With the elections just a couple of months away, we are encouraging residents to go online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and register to ensure they don’t lose the right to have their say.

“Registering now will allow plenty of time for applications to be processed and returned.”

Polling stations will be as Covid-secure as possible but those who cannot vote in person can still have their say by registering for a postal vote.

Voting by proxy is where someone is appointed to vote an individual’s behalf. To vote by proxy you must first find someone who is willing to attend your polling station and cast your vote on your behalf.

To register to vote by post or proxy simply download, print and fill in the application form by going to http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/voting-by-post-or-proxy or going to North Kesteven’s website and following the link to the Electoral Commission website.

Postal and proxy vote applications cannot be submitted online as the application form must be signed. Scan or take a picture of the completed form and email it to [email protected] or post or hand deliver it to Electoral Services Team, SKDC, St Peter’s Hill, Grantham, NG31 6PZ. Or for North Kesteven email: [email protected] or post to Electoral Services, North Kesteven District Council, Kesteven Street, Sleaford, NG34 7EF

The registration deadline for the May 6 elections is April 19. The deadline for postal vote registration is 5pm on April 20 and the proxy vote deadline is 5pm on April 27. For more information call the SKDC elections team on 01476 40 60 80 or email [email protected] or call NKDC elections team on 01529 308238 or email: [email protected]

Also taking on May 6 are by-elections for Bassingham and Brant Broughton ward of NKDC (one seat), Pointon and Sempringham Parish Council (five vacancies), Sleaford Town Council Quarrington Ward (one seat) and a number of Neighbourhood Plan Referendums.