Impending deadlines reminder ahead of Manchester's May local elections

Time is running out for people to make sure they can have their say in Manchester's forthcoming local elections.

The elections, being held on Thursday 7 May, will give voters in each of the city's 32 council wards the opportunity to choose who represents them.

Anyone who is not already on the electoral register has until midnight on Monday 20 April to register at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote in order to be able to vote.

The deadline for anyone who wants to choose to vote by post - as long as they already on the electoral register - is the following day, 5pm on Tuesday 21 April. You should apply via www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote

Voters are also being reminded that they have to show accepted photo ID to vote at a polling station. If you don't have any of the forms of accepted photo ID - or if the photo on your ID doesn't look like you any more - you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate The deadline to apply for this, in order to be able to use it in the 7 May local elections, is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April.

Tom Stannard, Returning Officer for Manchester, said: "We would encourage anyone who wants to vote in the forthcoming local elections and isn't already registered to do so as soon as possible. The last thing we want is for anyone to miss out on having their democratic say in these important elections."

Note to Editors

For a full list of accepted voter ID visit Accepted forms of photo ID | Electoral Commission