Parties prepare for snap poll contest

Residents urged to make sure they can vote

The starting gun has been fired to launch campaigning for next month’s snap General Election.

Voters will go to the polls on December 12 and locals are being urged to make sure they are registered so they do not miss out on the chance to have their say.

Election officials also say they are keeping a close eye on the weather and how it might impact polling stations, given the time of year.

Candidates for the Livingston and Linlithgow and Falkirk East constituencies will be announced shortly.

Don’t miss your Courier over the next few weeks for more information on candidates and what they have to say on the issues that matter.

West Lothian residents have until midnight on Tuesday, November 26, to make sure they are registered to vote in the General Election.

A West Lothian Council spokesperson said its election team has been working on contingency plans to ensure appropriate measures are in place if there is severe weather around polling day.

He continued: “The council is used to preparing for periods of severe weather around this time of year to make sure that key services aren’t impacted.

“The General Election on December 12 brings additional risks to this period. However, preparations are underway to minimise the impact any potential issues would have on the poll.”

Anyone who is not registered to vote can visit www. gov. uk/ register- tovote or call 0131 344 2500. They should make sure they have their National Insurance number to hand.

Anyone who wants to vote without attending a polling station on December 12 can request a postal or a proxy vote. The deadline for postal vote applications is 5pm on Tuesday, November 26, and the deadline for applying to vote by proxy is 5pm on Wednesday, December 4.

Anyone can apply to vote by post. Details of how to apply are at www.lothian-vjb.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/Documents/ Electoral_ Forms/ Postal_ Forms/19FORM-Postal_Vote.pdf.

Anyone who is unable to vote in person can get someone to vote for them and tell them who to vote for. This is called a proxy vote. Anyone can act as a proxy as long as they are registered to vote and it is for a type of election they are allowed to vote in.

To apply for a proxy vote go to www.lothian-vjb.gov.uk/wp- content/uploads/ Documents/ Electoral_ Forms/Proxy_ Forms/19Form- App_ Proxy_VoteParticular_Election.pdf.

Only British citizens aged 18 and over can vote in this election.

For more information visit either www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or www.westlothian.gov.uk/voting.