Don't miss out on your right to vote

UP TO 10,000 people living in the Newtownabbey area could lose the chance to vote in this year's UK Parliamentary General Election because they are not on the electoral register, the Electoral Commission - the independent elections watchdog - has warned.

With a General Election due to take place by June this year, figures reveal that around 15% of eligible voters in Newtownabbey have yet to add their details to the electoral register. The Newtownabbey council takes in towns such as Ballyclare and Glengormley.

Samus Magee, head of the Electoral Commission’s office in Northern Ireland, said: “Although the number of voters registered in the Newtownabbey council area has risen in the last 12 months, there are still many people who are eligible to vote who need to register if they are to have their say on polling day.

“A General Election could be called at any time, so we would encourage everyone to register as soon as possible. It just takes a few minutes: simply go to aboutmyvote.com and print off a registration form. Or you can call 0800 0323 700 for more information. Don’t let anything stop you from having your say on election day.

“From past experience, we know that it’s often young people, people from certain ethnic minority communities and people who had moved house recently who are most likely to be missing from the register.”