Make sure you're election ready for 7 May

Elections take place in 14 Rugby Borough Council wards.

In Bilton Ward, a by-election prompted by a recent resignation runs alongside the scheduled election, meaning electors can vote for two of the ten candidates listed on the ballot paper.

An election for Long Lawford Parish Council also takes place, while electors in Clifton-upon-Dunsmore can cast a vote in the referendum on the parish's neighbourhood plan.

Notices of uncontested elections have been published for the parish councils in Easenhall, Shilton and Barnacle, Wolston, and Wolvey.

Postal voters in Long Lawford receive separate packs for the borough council and parish council elections - with the borough council ballot paper white and the parish council ballot paper green.

In Clifton-upon-Dunsmore, postal voters also receive separate packs for the borough council election and neighbourhood plan referendum, with the referendum ballot paper in grey.

A number of new polling stations operate for the elections on 7 May, so voters have been urged to check polling cards for the location of their polling station - or check on the council's website at www.rugby.gov.uk/pollingstation

Dan Green, the Returning Officer for Rugby, urged voters to return postal votes via the Royal Mail in the pre-paid envelope included with the ballot papers.

"With the recent changes to postal voting - which mean you need to sign a form if you hand deliver your postal vote at the Town Hall or polling station - returning your vote by post is the simplest way to make sure you have your say at the local elections," Mr Green added.

"With the deadlines for voter registration, postal and proxy vote applications - and applications for free voter ID - rapidly approaching, now's the time to make sure you're election ready for 7 May."

Voters have been reminded of the key deadlines in the run-up to the elections:

•    deadline to register to vote - Monday 20 April: visit www.rugby.gov.uk/registertovote 
•    deadline for postal vote applications - 5pm on Tuesday 21 April: visit www.rugby.gov.uk/postalvote
•    deadline for free, Voter Authority Certificate photo ID - 5pm on Tuesday 28 April: visit www.rugby.gov.uk/voterID
•    deadline for proxy vote applications - 5pm on Thursday 28 April: visit www.rugby.gov.uk/proxyvote

You can check whether you're election ready for 7 May at www.rugby.gov.uk/electionready