RESIDENTS of West Oxfordshire are being urged to check they are on the electoral register as local elections approach.

A total of 17 of the 49 seats on West Oxfordshire District Council and 115 seats on 17 town and parish councils are up for election on Thursday, May 3.

Polling cards are being sent to those registered living in the affected wards.

Anyone who has not received their polling card by April 5 should check that they are on the electoral roll by emailing elections@westoxon.gov.uk or calling 01993 861410.

Keith Butler is the electoral registration officer at the council.

He said: “All too often people turn up at the polling stations to find out they are not able to vote as they are not on the register. Often it is because they have changed address and not realised that they need to re-register.

“Also, some people think that paying council tax adds them to the electoral register but it does not as this is a separate system.”

The deadline for receiving ‘register to vote’ applications is Tuesday, April 17, and this can be done online by visiting gov.uk/registertovote or you can call 01993 861000.