RESIDENTS who want a postal vote for the May 2 local elections have until 5pm tonight, April 15, to register.

Knutsford, Wilmslow and Middlewich residents must send their requests to Cheshire East Council, while Northwich and Winsford folk must send their postal vote applications to Cheshire West and Chester Council – and both authorities have the same cut-off point at 5pm.

Kath O'Dwyer, acting chief executive and returning officer at CEC, said: "I would urge every registered voter who wishes to have a postal vote in the local elections on 2 May to apply as soon as possible – and not leave it until the very last minute.

"If you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice – so I would urge everyone, who is eligible, to vote and be heard."

To register for a postal vote:

Completed forms must be received by the elections teams before the 5pm deadline.

People who opt for a postal vote are advised to follow the instructions enclosed in their postal vote pack carefully.

For a postal vote to be valid, electors must return both the ballot paper and the correctly completed postal voting statement.

Postal voters need to complete the postal voting statement accurately with their date of birth and signature.

Meanwhile, the deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday, April 24.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday, May 2.

For more information visit yourvotematters.co.uk