Register to Vote

Residents in the Heywood and Middleton constituency are being reminded that they must register to vote by Tuesday, September 23 otherwise they will be unable take part in the upcoming parliamentary by-election.

Voters are due to go to the polls in Heywood and Middleton to find an MP following the sudden death of MP Jim Dobbin. The constituency includes Castleton, Bamford and Norden wards as well as those in Heywood and Middleton.

To make sure they are registered to vote they should visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or call 0300 303 0345. All you need is your name, address, date of birth and National Insurance Number and it takes less than five minutes.

Polling cards have been sent out but if they do not arrive voters should also ring 0300 303 0345.

If you won’t be able to get to the polling station on 9 October, you can apply to vote by post by 5pm on Wednesday 24 September. Postal votes have already been despatched from the Town Hall and if electors haven’t received their postal pack by 3 October, they can request a replacement up until polling day.  Postal packs must be returned by 10pm on election day and can be returned to any polling station, however, voters should try to get them sent back as soon as possible.

The deadline for proxy applications is 5pm on Wednesday 1 October.

Votes can be cast at polling stations from 7am to 10pm on election day and, following this, ballot boxes will be taken to Heywood Sports Village for the count and the result will be announced in the early hours of Friday October 10.

For further information, visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/elections .