GET REGISTERED TO VOTE THIS THURSDAY - URGES GRANT

4th February 2015

Highlands and Islands (Scottish Labour) MSP, Rhoda Grant is urging voters across the Highlands and Islands to register to vote. The call comes ahead of National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) which takes places on Thursday 5th February.

Mrs Grant is encouraging people across the region to use a few minutes of the day to take some time and ensure they are registered to vote, which can be done on-line via the gov.uk website.

Commenting, Mrs Grant said:"I am backing the Bite The Ballot campaign to encourage people to sign up to vote on National Voter Registration Day. The referendum last year saw thousands of people who had never cast a vote before, come out to the polls or vote by post or proxy to ensure their voice was heard, and it is important that we use the momentum from the referendum to ensure more people than ever before are registered to vote for the important elections coming up in 2015 for the General Election and 2016 for the next Scottish Parliament election and beyond."

"THE NVRD campaign was established as a response to the lack of education and awareness around voter registration in the U.K. and did a great job last year by getting almost 50,000 people across the U.K. registered to vote. This year NVRD aims to register 250,000 across the UK and I hope a good percentage will come from newly registered voters from across the Highland and Islands, which is more vital than ever with less than 100 days before the next election.

“Now that new rules have been introduced which means each voter is responsible for his or her own registration rather than the “head of household" mean that many people who signed up to vote for the referendum might not be eligible for future elections. Use a couple minutes from your day to ensure you don't lose your right to vote.”

Those aged 16 or over and who live in England, Scotland or Wales, you can register via the gov.uk portal
https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote?utm_source=bitetheballot&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=nvrd