Are you signed up to vote?

As a committed democrat, I hope that as many people as possible who are eligible to vote will make sure that they are on the electoral register by the 20 April 2015 deadline. Anyone who is NOT on the register by that date will be unable to vote in the upcoming general and local elections.
Since the 1980s, and particularly since the introduction of the Community Charge (better known as the Poll Tax), the number of people NOT registered to vote has gone up substantially. It is now forecast that more than 6 million people are missing from the electoral register.
Recently the system changed from one which was household-based (where the "head of the household" was responsible for registering everyone in the household) to one which is individual-based. However, there is no guarantee that this will mean more people register.
If you are young, living in rented accommodation or move around a lot because of your job or studies, you are in a group most likely not to be listed as eligible to vote. Ironically you are also most likely to be bearing the brunt of recent political decisions, and probably of those to be taken after 7 May. You should have a say in who gets elected to represent you.
You can now register online. You will need to provide a few more details to register, including your national insurance number and date of birth. Alternatively to check if you are on the register, or for further information, contact Cheshire West and Chester Council's Democratic and Electoral Services team (email elreg@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk)