MP urges council to ensure everyone can vote (From Stourbridge News)

MP urges council to ensure everyone can vote

10:20am Monday 7th September 2009

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STOURBRIDGE MP Lynda Waltho is urging Dudley Council to make sure everyone in the borough eligible to vote is given the chance.

The Labour MP has written to Dudley Council chief John Polychronakis to make sure as many people as possible have chance to register to vote before the next General Election is called.

She says she decided to put pen to paper after some of the council’s electoral registration processes were rated as below standard by the Electoral Commission in a study published earlier this year.

Lynda said: “Although the General Election has yet to be called, council officials in Stourbridge should be working hard to make sure all eligible residents can have their say on polling day.

”Dudley Council, responsible for our electoral register, has been criticized for not being ready for elections in the past. I’ve written to the chief executive to make sure they’re doing all they can, so however people want to vote, they get chance to do so.

“With online registration and the chance to register throughout the year, it’s easier than ever for people to register to vote; but they’ll only know that they can if the council’s doing all it can to tell them.”

Dudley fell below standard in four areas in the Electoral Commission’s performance standard assessments of council electoral registration officers.

Areas criticised were: its public awareness strategy; maintaining the integrity of registration and absent vote applications; working with partners; and planning for rolling registration and the annual canvass.

In contrast - Sandwell met the standard in all but one area and exceeded it in six.

A spokesman for Dudley Council said: “Like many other authorities, areas of improvement were highlighted to us by the Electoral Commission, following a self assessment in December last year.

“We have made the necessary changes to bring these areas up to standard, and in line with our other areas.”

Forms allowing people to register to vote are due to go out this autumn.

MP Lynda added: “If people haven’t received a form, they can call my office for advice on how to obtain one, on 01384 374356.”

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