SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is reminding people they may need to take action to join the electoral register.

The council is writing to all South Gloucestershire households to clarify who is registered to vote.

Residents will receive a letter in early February which will clarify if the electoral register information on record for their property is correct and if they need to take action to join the electoral register.

To vote in the elections on May 7 you must be registered by Monday, April 20.

If you’re not on the register, you won’t have a say at any future elections and some referendums.

Cllr Howard Gawler, chairman of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “You will need to register in order to be able to vote.

“ If you aren’t registered to vote, you won’t have the chance to have a say on who represents you.

“When you are registered to vote you have confirmed your position as a British citizen and have joined the vast majority of people who are already registered in this country.”

It is also necessary to register to vote if you wish to apply for credit. This is because credit reference agencies use the register to check where someone lives when they apply for credit in order to prevent fraud.

If you are a South Gloucestershire resident and your household hasn’t received a household information letter by the end of February then please contact the electoral services team by calling 01454 863030 or by emailing electoral.services@southglos.gov.uk.

If you need to register to vote please visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.