Referendum countdown underway

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Preparations are under way to enable eligible Swansea voters to take part in the EU referendum on June 23, 2016.

Swansea Council’s elections team is preparing to enable thousands of residents to give their response to the referendum question: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?”

The good news is any residents already registered to vote for elections and eligible to have a say in the referendum will automatically be sent poll cards in due course – they do not need to register again.

And the elections team will be on hand to help those not already registered or with changed circumstances to make sure they get their chance too.

Swansea residents will be able to take part in the in/out EU vote if they are over 18 on June 23rd and are a British or Irish citizen living in the UK or a Commonwealth citizen living in the UK who has leave to remain in the UK or doesn’t need leave to remain in the UK.

It has been decided nationally that British citizens living overseas who have been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years can also have a say alongside Irish citizens living overseas born in Northern Ireland and registered to vote there in the last 15 years

Alison O’Hara, Swansea Council’s Electoral Services Team Leader, said: “If you are already registered to vote for elections there is no need to register again for the EU referendum.

“Only people who have not registered to vote so far or those whose circumstances have changed because of for example a house move since April will need to re-register by June 7th.”

Details about the referendum and who can vote are available at http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/upcoming-elections-and-referendums/eu-referendum

If you need to register to vote head to https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

If you did not receive a poll card for the recent NAW and PCC elections earlier this month and are therefore uncertain if you are on the register you can contact Electoral Services by visiting www.swansea.gov.uk/amiregistered or by calling 01792 636123.


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