European Union citizens (other than British or Irish Citizens) are only entitled to vote at Local Elections and European Parliamentary Elections. There is no entitlement to vote at UK Parliamentary Elections. Overseas electors (eligible British citizens living abroad) may register and vote at Parliamentary and European Parliamentary Elections only for a period of up to 15 years after they have left the country. There is no entitlement to vote at Local Elections.

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How do I Vote?

You will receive a poll card prior to the Election advising you of your Electoral Number, the date of the Election, the name of the polling station and how to cast your vote.

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How often are Elections held?

There are different rules for each type of Election:

UK Parliamentary Elections

The maximum period allowed between UK Parliamentary Elections is five years. There is no statutory minimum period. The last UK Parliamentary Election held in the Thirsk and Malton Constituency was on 27 May 2010.

European Parliamentary Elections

European Parliamentary Elections are held every five years and the last Election was held on 04 June 2009 in conjunction with County Elections.

Local Government Elections

Elections for the District, Parishes and County are held every four years, normally on the first Thursday in May. The North Yorkshire County Council Elections were held on 04 June 2009 alongside the European Parliamentary Election. The next ordinary Elections of District and Parish Councillors in Ryedale will be held in May 2015.

Ryedale District Council Elections

Ryedale is divided into 20 Wards for the purposes of District Elections, with each Ward returning between one and three Councillors. There are 30 Councillors in total representing the District of Ryedale and all out Elections are held every four years. The last District Council Election was held on 05 May 2011.

The District of Ryedale is divided into 121 Parishes of which 91 Parishes are large enough to have their own Parish Councillors. The remaining Parishes hold regular Parish Meetings. Every Parish must have an annual Parish Meeting, which all Local Government electors for the Parish are entitled to attend. Elections for Parish/Town Council Elections are held at the same time as District Elections and Parish/Town Councillors are elected for a term of four years.

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County Council Elections

The District of Ryedale is divided into six County Divisions, each returning one elected Councillor to North Yorkshire County Council. The six Divisions are Hovingham and Sheriff Hutton; Kirkbymoorside; Malton; Norton; Thornton Dale and the Wolds; Pickering. North Yorkshire County Council Elections are every four years and are normally held on the first Thursday in May. In 2009 the County Council Election was held on 04 June, the same day as the European Parliamentary Election.

The Council is responsible for compiling the Register of Electors for the District of Ryedale. If you are not on the Electoral Register you will not be eligible to vote in any Election. For further information contact Democratic Services on 01653 600666 or e-mail elections@ryedale.gov.uk.

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Absent Voting Applications

From 1st January 2007, every new absent voting application must include the applicant's signature and date of birth to be valid. The Regulations prescribe that:

All applications require the date of birth to be supplied in a dd/mm/yyyy format
All applications must have the signature supplied.
Where a postal vote is to be sent to an address other than the registered address, a reason for this redirection must be given.
Where applicable, please give the reason why a signature is unable to be provided and the name and address of any person who has assisted the application.

These provisions are in addition to the existing requirements for absent vote applications, namely that:

They must be in writing and be dated by the applicant
They must include the full name of the applicant
They must include the registration address or for a postal proxy application, the elector's name and address and the proxy's name and address
They must include the address where the postal ballot paper should be sent, and if this is not the registration address, a reason for this re-direction
On proxy applications, they must include the reason for the application and attestation if it is for more than a single election.

Where an applicant is unable to provide a signature, they may request that the Electoral Registration Officer waive the requirement for a signature. Any such request must include the reason(s) for it, along with the name and address of any person who has assisted them with the completion of the application.

Existing Absent Voters:

By law, all Electoral Registration Officers had to send a Notice after 1st January 2007, to all existing postal, proxy and postal proxy voters, requiring them to supply a specimen of their signature and their date of birth. Reminders were sent to anyone who had not replied, and if no further response was received from the elector, by law the postal/proxy voting status of that elector was cancelled with effect from 42 days after the initial Notice.

Timescales for Making Absent Vote Applications Prior to Polling:

The latest date for making a new application for a postal vote is 5 pm, eleven days before Polling Day.
The latest date for making a new application for a proxy vote is 5 pm, six days before Polling Day.
The latest date for amending an existing postal or postal proxy application is 5 pm eleven days before Polling Day.
In the case of a medical emergency on the grounds of unforeseen physical incapacity, a proxy application can be received up until 5pm on the day of poll.

Application forms for a postal or proxy vote are available opposite or can be obtained from Democratic Services.

Ryedale District Council, Ryedale House, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 7HH, Tel: (01653) 600666, Fax (01653) 696801, Email: enquiries@ryedale.gov.uk