Fenland Council prepares for two election dates - one for local councillors and one for Euro MPs - if Brexit doesn't happen in time

Preparations are well underway to ensure Fenland voters are ready for the both the local elections and European Parliamentary election in the coming weeks.

On Thursday, May 2, residents will go to the polls to elect district councillors to sit on Fenland District Council, as well as town and parish councillors.

Then on Thursday, May 23, if the UK does not leave the EU before that date, residents will also have the opportunity to vote in the European Parliamentary elections.

Fenland’s electoral services team has been gearing up for both elections, with the small team of staff busy booking polling stations, arranging staff for polling stations and the counts, as well as making sure everyone who wants to vote can do so.

Polling cards for May 2 were sent to all registered voters in the district last month. Electors are being urged to check their poll cards carefully to see if the polling stations they have previously used have changed.

Postal votes for anyone who applied to vote by post will be arriving on doormats from Wednesday, April 17. Anyone not able to cast their vote in person can still apply for a proxy vote and have someone they trust cast their vote for them. The deadline to apply for a proxy

vote is 5pm on Wednesday, April 24.

The following Polling Stations will not be in use on May 2 as the seats in both the

town/parish and district elections were uncontested:

 Chatteris Library (Birch ward)

 The Masonic Hall, Chatteris (The Mills ward)

 Robert Hall Centre, Wisbech (Clarkson ward)

 St Raphael Club, Wisbech (Medworth ward)

 Meadowgate School, Wisbech (Staithe ward)

 Doddington Village Hall (Doddington)

 Wimblington Village Hall (Wimblington)

 Golden Lion Public House (Wimblington)

Polling cards for the EU Elections on May 23 are now being sent out. Anyone not already registered to vote needs to register by midnight on Tuesday, May 7. It is quick and easy to register online by visiting: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

The deadline to apply for a postal vote in the EU Elections is 5pm on Wednesday, May 8, and the deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday, May 15.

EU Citizens can either vote in the UK or in their home country. To vote in the UK, they need to complete a European Parliamentary Voter Registration Form. Fenland District Council has sent around 5,800 forms to EU citizens living in the district to complete. It is also available to download online at: www.yourvotematters.co.uk Completed forms needs to be returned to the Council’s elections team by midnight on Tuesday, May 7, to enable them to vote.

More information on both elections, including key dates and deadlines for each, is available on the Council’s website at: www.fenland.gov.uk/elections. For the latest elections updates from Fenland District Council, including live election results, you can also follow @FenlandCouncil on Twitter and Facebook.

You can also find out your polling station at: www.fenland.gov.uk/findyournearest