PEOPLE are being reminded to complete their application to register to vote forms or risk losing out in next year’s general election and local elections.

In the move to individual electoral registration most electors were re-registered automatically and received letters to confirm this but those people who could not be matched automatically would have received a letter asking for them to provide additional information in order to be moved over to the new register.

Forms have been posted to these people since June but time is running out for them to reply before the register is produced.

Under the new system applications can be made quickly and simply on line at gov.uk/register-to-vote or by calling 01386 565437.

If people don’t return their forms to register they may find they face problems in the future with not only losing their right to vote but may find it difficult to get credit for such things as bank loans, mobile phone contracts and even mortgages.