Some European Union citizens living in Tendring could be missing out on the right to vote on June 4 according to Local Returning Officer John Hawkins and the Electoral Commission.

"According to the last census, there are over 1 million non-UK EU citizens resident in the UK," said Mr Hawkins.

"But many of them don't even realise they have the right to join the electoral register and vote in European Parliamentary and Essex County Council elections," said Mr Hawkins.

EU citizens from other countries who are resident in the UK qualify to be added to the electoral register and can vote in the European Parliament elections.

The deadline to register to vote is May 19.

Registering is simple and takes just a few minutes. You can get a registration form by calling Judith Raison TDC's Electoral Services Manager on 01255 686586 or by printing off a form from www.aboutmyvote.co.uk . You will find information about registering and the forthcoming elections in several languages, including French, Polish, Latvian, Portuguese and Lithuanian.

If you want to vote in the European Parliament election in the UK and are an EU citizen (but not a UK, Irish, Cypriot or Maltese citizen) and live in Tendring, you will also need to fill in a "European Parliament voter registration form".

This is available from your local authority or by printing it off from www.aboutmyvote.co.uk. However, only fill in this form if you wish to vote at the European Parliamentary election in the UK.

If you have any questions on the process, please contact Judith Raison on 01255 686586.

17/4/09

Related Links: Electoral Information