THE number of people registered to vote in the Wyre Forest district has gone up by almost one per cent since the last General Election.

Wyre Forest District Council announced the number of registered electors for the election on Thursday, May 7, is 77,451 compared to the 76,713 people who were registered to vote at the election in May 2010.

Many voters have taken advantage of the option to have a postal vote, with 11,855 or 15.4 per cent of the electorate choosing this method. This is a significant increase compared to 10,775 or 14 per cent who registered to vote by post in 2010.

The date to register to vote has now passed and those that have missed the deadline will not be able to cast their vote themselves in the election next month.

However applications to appoint a proxy, where another person casts the vote on the elector's behalf at the polling station, may be made until 5pm on Tuesday, April 28.

After that date, only people who are experiencing a medical emergency or are prohibited from voting in person due to their occupation, service or employment can apply to appoint a proxy. These applications must be counter-signed and there are specific rules on who can do it.

Anyone who will be casting their vote at a polling station is being reminded to check their poll card to find out where they should go to vote. This year there have been several changes to polling stations. The changes follow a Local Government Boundary Commission Review.

It has resulted in the Wyre Forest District Council area being divided into 12 wards with 33 councillors. Previously there were 17 wards with 42 councillors.

The different ward boundaries means new polling districts are being introduced and some new polling stations too. Eighteen locations that were previously used for polling stations will no longer be used for elections.