National Voter Registration Day: Make sure you have registered to vote.

Mark Tami MP for Alyn & Deeside is encouraging people across Deeside to register to vote on the anniversary of the Great Reform Act.

Today sees the anniversary of the the Great Reform Act introduced on 5^th of February 1832, when voters registered for the very first time.

To coincide the first ‘National Voter Registration Day’ (NVRD) will be launched on Today.

The event aims to empower future generations of young people to realise that they have a say in decisions affecting their future.

NVRD will see businesses, community groups and schools registering eligible young voters, showing them how and why they should take part in the democratic system.

In 1832 the number of eligible voters in a borough varied from six to 12,000, with the selection of some Members of Parliament controlled by one person.

Mark Tami MP for Alyn & Deeside said,

‘It is very important to highlight that in order to be able to vote you have to be registered first.

Sadly not enough people realise this and when it comes to voting day they find out that they are not registered so therefore cannot vote.’

In the 2010 General Election, only 44 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds voted the lowest turnout of all age demographics.

Even if they wanted to cast a vote on polling day, more than half of 18-24 year-olds could not, because they hadn’t registered to vote and were not on the electoral register

Certain groups are disproportionately under-represented.

Only 56% of people living in private rented homes are registered.

Nearly half of those not registered to vote mistakenly believe that they are.

The electoral register performs a hugely important civic function.

You can only vote, and choose the politicians who represent you, if you are on the register. It also ensures citizens are properly counted for the drawing of political boundaries – by ward and constituency – meaning the voice of Alyn & Deeside is heard.

For our criminal justice system, the register enables selection for jury service.

From next year, each individual will have to register, rather than the traditional method of a household survey.

Bite The Ballot (BTB) are an organisation who have been working in schools, youth clubs, colleges and youth offending institutes and has registered more than 15,000 young people to vote;

To register and to ensure you have a voice, simply visit AboutmyVote.co.uk, or contact 

Flintshire County Council
Electoral Registration Officer
Flintshire County Council
County Hall
Mold, Flintshire
CH7 6NB
01352 702329 / 01352 702327 / 01352 702412
Email Flintshire County Council