Make sure you can have your say

EAMONN BOYLAN

THE official countdown to the election to choose the first ever Greater Manchester Mayor has begun.

The formal notice of election has been published for the historic vote to choose who fills the post, created as part of the region's pioneering devolution deals.

Voters across Greater Manchester will go to the polls on Thursday, May 4, with the count and result declaration taking place on Friday, May 5.

And people in Oldham, Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan are being encouraged to make sure they are registered to vote.

Eamonn Boylan, Combined Authority Returning Officer for Greater Manchester, said: "The Mayor of Greater Manchester will be a significant figure in the political life of the region.

"People will be hearing a lot more about the mayoral contest in the weeks ahead. It's essential that no one who wants to have a say in choosing who is voted into office misses out because they are not registered."

Students are also being encouraged to register to vote as the Electoral Commission has identified them as one of the groups who are underrepresented nationally on electoral registers.

In some cases this can be because students think they are not allowed to register in both their term time addresses and home addresses. But in fact, they are allowed - and indeed recommended - to register at both, as long as they are not both within the same local authority (council) area.

For the Greater Manchester Mayoral elections, any student who is registered in more than one of the 10 Greater Manchester districts will have to choose which one to vote in because it is a single election.

Mr Boylan said: "We don't want anyone to miss out on their right to vote. There is a common misconception that students aren't allowed to be on the electoral register in more than one place but this simply isn't true.

"Any Greater Manchester-based student who is already on the electoral register here need take no further action to ensure they can have their say.

"But if they're not registered, and want to have a say in who becomes mayor, they are encouraged to register as soon as possible." People will need to be on the electoral register by Thursday, April 13.

If you are already on the electoral register, you don't need to take any further action.

But if you are not registered, and want to take part in the vote, you are encouraged not to put off registering.

You can visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote to download a registration form. You will just need your date of birth and national insurance number. If you need to update your details (for example if you have moved house, or changed surname through marriage) you should contact your local council.

Details of all confirmed candidates for the mayoral election will be published on Wednesday, April 5.

For more information about the Mayor's role and powers, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the mayoral election visit www.gmelects.org.uk