General election: make sure your voter details are up to date

With just eight weeks to go until the UK General Election, Edinburgh voters are being urged to make sure their voter details are up to date.

Members of the public, including students and people who may have moved home since the last time they registered, are being reminded to check their registration details are correct ahead of the vote on Thursday 7 May.

More than 84% of the city’s residents voted in the Scottish Independence Referendum in September, which saw a record-breaking turnout across the country.

Since this time last year, the number of people registered to vote has risen by more than 15,000.

But anyone who has moved home or changed their name since the Referendum will need to ensure their details are up to date in order to vote in May. Members of the public can register or update their details online using the Government website by 20 April.

Dame Sue Bruce, Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council and Returning Officer for Edinburgh, said: “It is crucial that voters’ registration details are correct in order to have their say in the election, so I would urge all those who are unsure to check they are registered.

“We saw a record high turnout for the Scottish Independence Referendum last year and it would be great to continue this enthusiasm into the UK Parliamentary Election in May.”

The City of Edinburgh Council has launched a campaign to promote voter awareness and voter registration ahead of the election, along with the Lothian Valuation Joint Board. The drive will use social media, news releases and other promotional material to share information and advice on taking part in the election.

Find out where, when and how to vote on the Council website.

Countdown: 100 days to General Election

Edinburgh residents are being urged to think about their vote with 100 days until the next UK Parliamentary Election.

People across the capital are being reminded that they will be voting for MPs to represent them at Westminster on Thursday 7 May, when the general election takes place.

More than 84% of the city’s residents voted in the Scottish Independence Referendum in September, which saw a record-breaking turnout across the country.

While most people who registered to vote in time for the referendum will still be eligible to take part in the UK Parliamentary Election in May, first time voters or anyone who has since moved will need to register again.

Sue Bruce, Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council and Returning Officer for Edinburgh, said: “It was incredible to see Edinburgh’s huge turnout in the Scottish Independence Referendum and we would like to continue this enthusiasm in the general election.

“No doubt the majority of people who took part in September will be keen to cast their vote in May. Voting should not be a once in a lifetime activity – elections are opportunities to have a say on issues that matter to us all. Anyone who is keen to register or is unsure about how to register, where to vote or how to vote by post can find more information on the Council website.”

Find out more about voter registration and elections information on the Council website.

Edinburgh’s Counting Officer shows X marks the spot

The Deputy Chief Counting Officer for Scotland and Counting Officer for Edinburgh has urged the public to make their vote count just over a week before the vote on Scottish Independence.

Sue Bruce, who is also Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council, met first time voters at Drummond Community High School today and reminded the city’s electorate how crucial it is to take care when casting their vote.

She said: “I want to make sure everyone is able to have their say, so can’t stress enough how important it is to take care when completing their ballot paper, putting one ‘X’ in the box beside the option they wish to choose.

“Postal voters should also complete their voting statement carefully by inserting the correct date of birth and signature and ensuring it is returned to the Counting Officer by 18 September.

“All those planning to vote in person should check their polling cards to find out where their local polling place is, or visit the Council website for more information on where and how to vote.”

Voter registration for the Referendum closed on 2nd September. All those unsure of whether they are registered should contact the Lothian Valuation Joint Board on 0131 344 2500 or visit their website.

More information on voting in the Scottish Independence Referendum is available from www.edinburgh.gov.uk/elections.

Referendum: only one week left to register to vote

There is now just one week to go until the Scottish Independence Referendum registration deadline (Tuesday 2 September).

Over 50,000 registration forms have already been downloaded from the Electoral Commission’s www.aboutmyvote.co.uk website in the first ten days of the campaign.

It is now important that anyone who has still not registered to vote does so by 2 September, or they will not be able to take part in this historic poll.

Over 2.5 million copies of the Commission’s impartial voting guide have been sent out during the first 10 days of the public awareness campaign.

During the same period (Monday 11 August – Wednesday 20 August):

The voting guide was downloaded a further 33,436 times.
The Commission’s website – www.aboutmyvote.co.uk –received 232,393 individual visits.
The Commission’s call centre has handled 6,670 enquiries from members of the public with large numbers requesting registration and postal vote application forms.

The Electoral Commission’s TV, radio, billboard and online advertising campaign runs right up until the registration deadline.

Andy O’Neill, Head of Scotland Office at the Electoral Commission, said:“There’s a huge amount of interest in the referendum and that’s reflected in the unprecedented response to the first ten days of our campaign.

“With just a week left to register to vote we’re encouraging anyone who’s not already registered to download a form at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or call our helpline on 0800 3 280 280 to request one as soon as possible.”

The Electoral Commission’s campaign has also included activities targeted at ensuring young people are aware of the registration deadline.

The Commission launched a joint push with Facebook so that Scottish Facebook users who visited the site saw a post in their Newsfeed about its voting guide.

The Commission has also been a part of the Scottish Youth Parliament’s ‘Ready, Steady Vote Week’.

As well as advertising directly to the public the Commission has partnered with a variety of organisations to target information at specific groups who are less likely to be registered to vote.

This includes the National Union of Students, Shelter Scotland, and Young Scot. The Commission has also produced a range of resources, including factsheets, posters and e-mail banners, which can be downloaded free of charge and used by anyone who is also working to promote awareness of how to take part in the referendum.

Independence Referendum: Are you registered?

First Minister: Make sure you have your say in your country’s future

With just four weeks to go until the independence referendum First Minister Alex Salmond has sent out a message to all voters highlighting the importance of being registered in time to vote.

To vote in the referendum on September 18, voters must be registered by September 2. For more information on registering visit: www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

A message to encourage voter registration has been recorded and personalised along with a British Sign Language version.

The First Minister said: “On September 18, the people of Scotland will have the biggest and most exciting democratic opportunity this country has ever seen, when they vote on the question: Should Scotland be an independent country?

“Already, more than 4.1 million people in Scotland have registered to vote – that’s a record for any election. But we want the number to be higher. We want all the people of Scotland to be represented.

“I think of it like this. Scottish identity is like the tartan. It is made up of many colours, many threads, many strands – each one of them is vital to our Scottish fabric of identity.

“From all parts of the globe – from Pakistan to Poland, from Nigeria to Italy, from Canada to Australia – Scotland has been blessed by people who have chosen to come and build their lives here. All of us, together, are part of modern Scotland. And every single one of us has an equal say in choosing Scotland’s future.

“So if you haven’t yet registered to vote, please do it before September 2. You can visit www.aboutmyvote.org.uk for more information. Registering is easy, and won’t take long.

“This 18th of September, Scotland’s future will be in Scotland’s hands. Please make sure you’re part of that choice.”

Links to messages:

Hindi – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbes5q6eom4
Bengali – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9se9fMjQmM
Irish Gaelic – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9A_YmFyLOg
Polish – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir7CbTXiSY4
French – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWqxDjJYCP4
Punjabi – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaLIV7GdsfY
Urdu – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nLhsPZRLVc
Cantonese – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4K0tmXPB5A
Mandarin – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vXK_iFekJg
Arabic – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3Qj1L3VdQ
Gaelic – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3KyLTZadxw
BSL – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHqVKe7hzM4

Edinburgh urged to register to vote in Independence Referendum

Some of Edinburgh’s residents could miss out on their chance to vote in Scotland’s biggest election if they don’t act soon – potential voters have just four weeks left to register to make sure they can have their say in the Scottish Independence Referendum.

Almost 360,000 people in Edinburgh have already registered for Thursday 18 September’s vote on whether Scotland should be an independent country, but approximately 10% of the city’s potential electorate have yet to sign up to take part in the momentous vote.

Sue Bruce, Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council and Counting Officer for Edinburgh, has encouraged local constituents to take action by 2 September.

She said: “The Referendum is an incredibly important decision for everyone in Scotland, and it would be unfortunate to miss out because of something as simple as failing to register.

“I would encourage anyone who has not registered, or is not certain if they have already, to make sure they do so as soon as possible.”

All those who will turn 16 by 18 September can register to vote by calling the Electoral Registration Office on 0131 344 2500 or visiting their website before 2 September.

Once they are on the register, people who wish for someone to vote on their behalf (by proxy), or to vote by post, have until 3 September to register, otherwise they will need to vote in person on 18 September.

Poll cards will begin being sent out on 14 August with postal voters receiving voting packs from 27 August.

Lothian Valuation Joint Board has been gearing up for the event with a series of registration roadshows, including one which will take place at this month’s Edinburgh Mela.

Further information and FAQs on voting and registration can be found on the Council’s website: www.edinburgh.gov.uk