Jump in applications to vote as deadline looms
Nearly 156,000 people have applied to register to vote in the past seven days – the highest weekly total so far this year.
Time is running out for applications to vote in the 2019 local elections, with the deadline this Friday (April 12).
A total of 155,592 applications were submitted in week ending April 7, according to Government figures.
This was up 10% on the previous week, and almost double the total at the start of the year.
The jump in applications might also reflect growing public expectation of other polls in the near future, such as European elections, a second EU referendum or even a general election.
More than half (51%) of applications submitted in the past week were from people aged 34 and under, while just 9% came from those aged 65 and over.
Got 5 DAYS to register to vote?🗳
That's right, there's just 5 days left to register to vote in the local elections on 2 May.
Make sure you're registered by midnight on Friday 👇https://t.co/vtX80vFRaepic.twitter.com/KbpIfIRa3y
— Your Vote Matters (@YourVote_UK) April 8, 2019
A total of 1.45 million applications have been made so far in 2019.
Local elections will take place on May 2 across most of England.
Seats on 248 local authorities will be up for grabs, including five newly-created councils: Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole; Dorset; East Suffolk; West Suffolk; and Somerset West & Taunton.
If the UK takes part in this year’s EU parliamentary elections, the deadline for people to apply to register to vote will be May 7.
Full details on how to register are at gov.uk/register-to-vote
