Time is running out to register to vote

More than 3,500 have registered to vote in Blackpool since Theresa May called the surprise election on April 18.

Blackpool Council has also seen a 400 per cent rise in people visiting its elections website in the time.

But town hall chiefs fear a black hole of some 6,000 potential voters will be unable to have their say at the ballot box because they have not registered – and time is running out.

Of the 89,838 adults in Wyre, 86,657 are registered to vote – and 2,950 signed up since the general election was called.

The deadline for registering to vote is on Monday.

Neil Jack, chief executive of Blackpool Council, said: “Being able to vote is one of your democratic rights and the election is a chance to have your say on who you want to represent your views in Parliament for the next five years.

“This is a big responsibility and we don’t people to be turned away because they didn’t check that they were registered to vote.”

Blackpool Council is warning anyone who has moved house in the last two years may have ‘fallen off’ the register.

And while interest is high – the number of people visiting the website to apply for a postal or proxy vote has also risen by over 2,000 per cent – there are fears some residents will not realise it is their responsibility to ensure they have a vote at the election on June 8.

Mr Jack added: “Registering is very quick and easy to do – it only takes five minutes. If you are unsure whether you are registered then it is definitely worth double checking by calling our elections team before it is too late.”

Fylde Council was unable to provide voter registration figures.

In the run-up to the general election, The Gazette will be profiling the candidates standing in local constituencies.