ON Tuesday (31 March), the Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Steve Liddiard, received the Writ of Election – the official notice that a General Election has been called for the Thurrock constituency.
The writ must be received by the Returning Officer – the mayor – and is the official starting gun for the election campaign.
Because of the General Election, there will be voting across the whole of Thurrock on Thursday, 7 May. The borough is covered by two Parliamentary constituencies, Thurrock (sitting MP Jackie Doyle-Price) and part of South Basildon and East Thurrock (Stephen Metcalfe).
In 16 wards there will also be a local election for Thurrock council. Because the council is elected in thirds and there are several two-member wards, not every ward has a local election this year – there will be no local elections in Little Thurrock Blackshots, Orsett, South Chafford, and Tilbury St Chad’s.
Cllr Liddiard said: “It is a great privilege to accept the Writ of Election, a historic British tradition.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to urge everyone to use their right to vote on Thursday, 7 May and to ensure they are registered to do so.”
Cllr Liddiard, as Returning Officer, will also be announcing the result of the Parliamentary poll in the early hours of Friday, 8 May, at The Backstage Centre, High House Production Park, Purfleet.
The official Parliamentary Notice of Election will be published on Tuesday (31 March) and nominations for the Parliamentary election can be received from the following day, between 10am and 4pm. Nominations close at 4pm on 9 April.
The Notice of Election for the borough, was published on Monday (30 March) and again, nominations can be received until 9 April at 4pm.
Following the close of nominations, a statement of persons nominated, listing the candidates, will be published for each election.
Although many people vote by post, the majority still visit their local polling station and poll cards will be sent out following the receipt of the writ. They will be delivered up to and including until the weekend of 4/5 April.
Electors who apply to register up to 20 April will be sent a later poll card. Voters do not need a poll card to vote so long as they are on the register.
People’s polling station may have changed since the last election and the cards should be checked carefully – the polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on 7 May.
Applications to register to vote must reach the council’s electoral registration officer by midnight on 20 April and people can register at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, by telephone to 01375 652816 or application forms can be requested by email to [email protected] or from the home page of the council’s website.
To apply to register, people must have their National Insurance Number and date of birth. If you do not have a national insurance number you will need to provide an alternative form of evidence.
Applications to vote by post must reach the electoral registration officer at the council by 5pm on 21 April – application forms are included on the reverse of the poll card. Postal vote ballot packs will be sent out from 20 April.
Applications to vote by proxy must reach the council by 5pm on 28 April.
