PREPARATIONS for the 2014 Woking Borough Council elections have been put into motion.
If they have not yet received one, residents can expect to see a voter registration form arrive through the post any day now.
The form requests details of all residents over the age of 16 living in the property to help create the 2014 Register of Electorals.
Under the current system of registration, a household canvass form is sent to each address and is completed by one individual on behalf of everyone living at the property.
But this is being replaced by a new Individual Electoral Reg-istration system and each household member will have to register individually.
This year, there is no qualifying date for inclusion on the register.
However, residents are encouraged to return their completed form as soon as possible to ensure their details are included on the register and it is up to date in time for the launch. Woking Borough Council’s chief executive and electoral registration officer, Ray Morgan, says he is targeting young adults with the IER system to encourage registered Woking voters turning 18 to have their say.
He explained: “I would urge all residents to complete and re-turn their voter registration form as soon as it arrives to ensure they are included on the electoral register, which will enable them to vote during future elections.
"I am particularly keen to encourage parents and guardians to ensure that they include all people aged 16 and 17 (rising 18 year olds) living in their household on the form as we continue to have less than 50 per cent of rising 18 year olds in the borough included in the Register of Electors.
“It is important for residents to use their right to vote as it provides local people with an opportunity to influence what happens in the borough and to shape the future for generations to come.”