With less than three weeks to go until the European Parliamentary elections, Orkney Islands Council’s elections team is reminding local voters of some key things to remember about this election.

These are:

– Voters under 18 are not eligible to vote in this election.

– Deadlines are fast approaching. The deadline for registering to vote is midnight on 7 May 2019, for applying for a postal votes is 17:00 on 8 May 2019,  postal proxy votes is 17:00 on 8 May 2019 and proxy votes is 17:00 on 15 May 2019.

– EU citizens living in Orkney are also being contacted about additional paperwork they will need to complete if they intend to vote in the county. European Parliament Voter Registration forms allow EU citizens to vote here, rather than in their home country and are being sent out this week to over 200 EU citizens currently resident in Orkney. These forms should be returned by 17:00 on Tuesday May 7.

– In the election, electors have one vote. Each party puts forward a list of candidates known as the regional list and electors can vote for one of these lists or for an individual candidate. The number of MEPs that are elected from each party depends on their overall share of the votes cast. The United Kingdom will have 73 MEPs. Scotland is one of 12 electoral regions in the UK and will have 6 MEPs.

– There’s a change in polling station this time for Orphir voters who will vote at the Orphir Kirk instead of the Orphir school. Evie voters are reminded that their polling station is at the Evie Church now.

– Postal vote packs will begin arriving from May 7. Voters should take time to ensure that they have completed the postal voting statement correctly, making sure that they have signed the statement and filled in the box for their date of birth. Postal votes should be posted to reach the Council Offices no later than 22:00 on May 23 (polling day). However, postal votes can also be handed into polling stations and the Council Offices at School Place on the day of the election before 22:00.