Don't lose your voice - register to vote

Don’t lose your voice – register to vote

The council is joining forces with the Electoral Commission to urge local residents to make sure their electoral registration details are up to date.

Councillor Stephen McCabe, Leader of Inverclyde Council, said, “Elections offer us the chance to make our voices heard and to choose the councillors, MPs and MSPs who we think will do the best job for our communities and our country.

“The Scottish Parliament elections take place in May 2021, so this is an important opportunity for residents to make sure they can vote.”

The Electoral Registration Officer will be getting in touch with every household to check that the electoral register is up to date and to identify any residents who should be registered but are currently missing.

With all nationalities now able to vote in Scottish Parliament and council elections, this will be an important opportunity to ensure these new voters can get onto the electoral register before next year’s Scottish Parliament election.  

Kate Crawford Electoral Registration Officer for Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board said, “Residents need to keep an eye out for messages from Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board so we can make sure we have the right details on the electoral register for every address in Inverclyde and you are able to vote in any forthcoming elections. You might not have been able to vote before but with the extension of voting rights, you may be able to vote now – but only if you are registered”.

“If you’re not currently registered, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote”

People who have moved recently are also being encouraged to look out for the voter registration messages from Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board and check the details.

Research by the Electoral Commission shows that people who have moved home recently are far less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time. Across Great Britain, 92% of people who have been at their property for more than 16 years will be registered, compared to 36% of people who have lived at an address for less than one year.

Andy O’Neill, Head of Electoral Commission in Scotland, said, “It doesn’t matter where you were born. If you are aged 16 and over you can vote in elections in Scotland but only if you register to vote first. Making sure you provide the necessary information to your electoral registration office when it is needed will ensure the process runs smoothly.

“There’s lots of helpful information about registering to vote on our website https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter.”

Any residents who have any questions can contact their local registration team at ero@renfrewshire-vjb.gov.uk or call 0300 300 0150

To be eligible to register to vote a person must be:

  • Aged 14 or over (a person may register to vote at 14, but may not vote until they are 16 for Scottish Parliament and council elections and aged 18 for UK Parliament elections)
  • A British, Irish, EU or other foreign citizen who has leave to enter and remain in the UK or does not require such leave.