European Elections: Postal voters encouraged to make it count

People who have arranged to have a postal vote in the forthcoming European Parliamentary Elections are being reminded to make sure they send it in time.

Postal votes must reach the local returning officer for each area by Thursday 4 June in order to count.

Electors in 39 local authority areas across the North West of England will be casting votes to select the region's eight Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

Sir Howard Bernstein, Regional Returning Officer for the North West, said: "It's important that anyone who has arranged to have a postal vote and wants to have their say in the European Parliamentary Elections does not leave it too late to send it."

The European Parliament plays a role in making European Union (EU) laws and also has a say over the EU's annual budget. The eight MEPs who are elected will represent the region on issues including environmental protection, consumer rights, energy policy and transport.

The deadline for voters to arrange to have a postal vote has now expired. For more information about the European Parliamentary Elections visit www.northwestvotes.gov.uk