Make sure you don't miss out on Warwickshire County Council elections

On Thursday 6 May, residents in Atherstone will go to the polls, and with 57 county council divisions for re-election across Warwickshire, they can have their say on who represents them on Warwickshire County Council.

The deadline to register to vote in the May 2021 elections is midnight on Monday 19 April. It is quick and easy to register to vote online; visit the Government's website.

Voters have a range of options for casting their ballot: in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote.

Once you are registered to vote, the deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 20 April, and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on 27 April.

You can find out more about local elections in Warwickshire by visiting the NWBC website, where you'll find links to your local borough and district council's own elections webpages, plus answers to frequently asked questions.

Your vote matters - it makes a difference to how your council prioritises services and responds to issues such as public health, education, employment, climate change, domestic violence, and transport.

By voting, you are choosing who represents your area on the local issues that affect you.

For those who choose to vote in person on 6 May, measures are being put in place to ensure that polling stations are Covid-secure and safe.

Voters are encouraged to keep themselves and others safe by:

- Wearing a face covering

- Cleaning their hands when entering and leaving the polling station

- Voters should not attend the polling station if they have symptoms of Covid-19, or if they have been asked to self-isolate.

There will be provisions in place to apply for an emergency proxy vote if required due to health circumstances.

Monica Fogarty, Chief Executive and County Returning Officer, Warwickshire County Council, said: "It's important to make sure your voice is heard at the elections in May, and measures are being put in place to help you cast your vote safely. You can vote in person at a polling station, by post or by proxy.

"So, make a plan. Vote early by post or vote by proxy if you don't want to go out on polling day and vote safely if you do want to cast your vote in person on 6 May."

Some Atherstone residents will also be able to vote in town council elections as two seats are to be reelected on May 6, with a possibility of a third in the balance. More details on this to follow.