Big Issue: Make sure you're registered for historic election
ON November 15, history is being made.
That's the day an election takes place across Gloucestershire for a Police and Crime Commissioner, along with 40 other police areas in England and Wales.
It will be the first time electors in Gloucestershire can vote for an individual to represent them on policing and community safety matters.
It's also the first time a supplementary vote system and a national website for candidate election addresses is being used.
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Around half a million people in Gloucestershire will be eligible to vote but to do so you must be on the electoral register.
The new register is being published today.
If you have recently moved home do check with the elections office at your District Council.
The last date for registration is October 31.
As with other elections, you will be able to vote in person, by post or by proxy.
If you want a postal or proxy vote make sure you have told the elections office.
What's different this time is the ballot paper and the way you can vote.
The ballot paper will list the candidates.
Next to the list there will be two columns.
You will be able to vote for your first-choice candidate in the first column and your second-choice candidate in the second column.
You must not put more than one mark (a X or a tick ) in each column.
Polling station staff will remind you on the day and postal voters will have detailed instructions in their pack.
To help everyone understand the voting system and what the election is all about, the Electoral Commission is posting a booklet to every household in Gloucestershire.
This will start arriving on doormats from October 22.
A copy of the booklet and an explanation of the voting system is at www. aboutmyvote.co.uk/pcc.aspx.
Alternative formats are available by 0800 3 280 280 (free from landlines, mobile phone charges apply).
Voting in person takes place on November 15 between 7am and 10pm in over 460 polling stations across Gloucestershire.
Your poll card will give details of your polling station.
If you have a postal vote, you will receive your ballot paper from November 3 onwards.
Comments
by Jewbacca
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 2:20PM
“Jeanne Berry quit last week Matt, then had an utterly embarrassing interview on Radio Gloucestershire where she lost the plot!
Agree about the party politics clouding the debate, it's sickening behaviour by the parties.”
by Matt1006
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 11:00AM
“geraint2010 - it is your decision to chose not to vote at all. But - in my opinion - you then forfeit your right to complain about whoever wins the contest. Same applies to those who don't vote in real political elections complaining about their local MP.
You are right about the whole thing being made political though - in which case, the independent Martin Surl looks a good bet, especially as he's a former high-ranking police officer, so should have a good idea of what's what. I will be voting, but can't see my vote going to any of the main political-party-backed candidates, because this isn't (officially, at least) a political election.
And according to the entry on Wiki, we have a 5th candidate in Glos - Jeanne Berry, standing for the "Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting" party. So apart from her opposition to the badger cull, I wonder what other issues / concerns she has...???
The election takes place 4 weeks on Thursday, so it is about time the declared candidates made their pitches - as reported on the national TV news last night, the general understanding of these elections - even that they are happening in a month's time - is very low. For those who are planning to use their vote, we need some information from the candidates to persuade us to vote for them.”
by geraint2010
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 10:35AM
“Well I won't be voting on principle. Firstly I know virtually nothing about the candidates and secondly I strongly object to the political sponsorship of candidates for an appointment in which party politics should play no part.”