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April news

Make sure your voice is heard on 1 May

Portsmouth City Council is hoping voters turn out in force for the local government elections on Thursday 1 May.

A total of 59 candidates are putting themselves forward across all 14 wards - a third of the council. One candidate will be elected to each of the wards, so there is a real competition and a choice for voters.

The council's chief executive, David Williams, said: "Voting is a massively important way for people to have their say on the issues that matter to them, and how their money is spent by the council.

"By voting, people are choosing who will take decisions on so many services that affect their everyday lives. We run everything from schools to rubbish collection, from housing to libraries.

"For people who want to vote, but will be away or can't get to their nearest polling station for any reason, they can apply to vote by proxy - when you authorise someone to vote on your behalf - or by post.

"The polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm to make voting easier for people who start work early or finish late.

"And lost postal votes can now be replaced up to 5pm on polling day."

In the last election in 2007, 31.81% of eligible voters went to the polls in the city. This compares to 33.35% in 2006, 34.91% in 2004 and 26.61% the previous year. There was no local election in 2005.

As previously announced, 5pm on Wednesday 16 April is the deadline for people to apply to:

be included in the register of electors
request a new postal vote or change or cancel an existing absent vote facility

And 23 April is the last day for new applications to vote by proxy.

The council has sent out 134,235 poll cards which give every elector details of their polling station, including a location map.

If residents have any enquires, the council's election hotline is (023) 9283 4074.

Date : 11 April 2008