Have You Got Any Questions?
We've pulled together some frequently asked questions that we hope will provide you with a basic understanding of the electoral process.
If the information you need is not included, please contact the Democratic Services Department on 01685 725202 or email electoral@merthyr.gov.uk and we will be happy to help.
If you do not vote, you are saying that you do not care. Voting influences everything about the world in which we live. Our entire society is based on democratic choice. If you don’t bother to vote in an election, then you can’t really complain afterwards about the way in which society is being run. But if you do choose to cast your vote in an election, you can influence the way in which we live.
Of course it does - governments have changed hands because of the way in which people have voted and the politicians elected to represent you at local, national and international levels all rely on your votes to do so. At one time, not everyone was able to have a say about how this country was run and in many parts of the world today, people are still denied their basic democratic rights. Our freedom to vote should never be taken for granted.
First of all, you have to register with your local council – if you are not on the electoral register, you can’t vote. Each year between August and December, blue and yellow canvass forms are delivered to every home in the county borough. We use the information you provide to produce a register of voters, and this register is then used whenever there is an election. The form will list the names of people who live at each address. While only people aged 18 or over can vote, you can still include any 16 or 17 year olds that may live at the address as this will make it easier for them to vote when they turn 18.
There is also a system known as rolling registration, so if you've recently moved, your details have changed or you simply realised that you hadn't completed the original form the previous year, then contact us on electoral@merthyr.gov.uk and we will provide the necessary forms.
If you are a student, you can register at both your home and term-time address – but don’t forget that it is illegal to vote twice!
If you are in the armed forces, you should make sure you are registered with your local council at your home address or where you are based.
Anyone who is eligible to vote can choose to do so by post if they apply in advance of an announced election. Postal votes can be sent to an address of your choice, either in Britain or abroad. Voting by proxy is where you nominate someone else to vote for you. People with long-term illness, disability or work commitments often prefer to vote using these methods. If you need more information on postal or proxy voting, call us on 01685 725168 / 725401 or email electoral@merthyr.gov.uk
If you are going to live abroad, you can register to vote in parliamentary and European parliamentary elections in this country. You can live abroad for up to 15 years and still keep your right to vote in the United Kingdom, but you must fill in an overseas form every year. You will need to fill in a different form, please contact us on 01685 725168 / 725401 or email electoral@merthyr.gov.uk
The Electoral Services team will be happy to provide you with these forms and offer you help and advice. Remember, if you have already completed and submitted a Vote by Post form for your current address, you won’t need to reapply. You can contact the Electoral Services team at: Electoral Services, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AN. Telephone: 01685 725168 / 725401 or email: electoral@merthyr.gov.uk
The law regulating nominations is slightly different for each type of election, i.e. community, local, national assembly, parliamentary and european. If you are interested in standing you would be advised to make an appointment with Ann Taylor, Democratic Services Team Leader tel: 01685 725202 email: ann.taylor@merthyr.gov.uk