Somerset residents planning to cast their vote by post, rather than in person, need to be aware of changes to the system.
From today (15 April) the way postal votes are received at Somerset Council offices will change.
New laws coming into force means that when someone hands in a postal vote at a reception point or at a polling station, a Postal Vote Return form must now also be completed. This could be time-consuming.
So voters are being encouraged to use Royal Mail and post their vote in good time for it to be counted.
Postal votes receive an speedy service from Royal Mail and are easily identified by the purple flashes marked on the envelopes. They are delivered up to 9.30pm on polling day which is why Royal Mail should be the preferred method of returning them.
Voters can check their nearest post box and collection times via www.royalmail.com/services-near-you#/
Postal votes can still be handed in and the relevant forms completed during office hours only at these four locations in Somerset:
- Bridgwater House, Bridgwater
- Shape Office, Shepton Mallet
- West Somerset House, Williton
- Petters House, Petters Way, Yeovil
Voters need to know that any postal votes that are simply left at offices or put in office post boxes, will have to be rejected.
The next scheduled elections take place on 2 May for the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and in Somerset’s Mendip South division following the resignation of one of the two councillors elected to represent the area.
