District's voters encouraged to get ready for the referendum

Residents across the Harrogate district are being reminded to make sure the are 'referendum ready' as voters head to the polls today.
Polls will be open today from 7am to 10pm.Polls will be open today from 7am to 10pm.
Polls will be open today from 7am to 10pm.

The electoral commission has recommended that people plan when they will be voting after recent research found 35 per cent still hadn’t yet decided on what time they would visit polling stations.

Wallace Sampson, Counting Officer for the Harrogate district, said: “Putting a cross in a box might seem simple, but there are plenty of things voters need to consider in order to be ‘referendum ready’.

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“Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm and the busiest time is usually in the late afternoon – when parents come with their children after school and early evening when people come to vote after work.

“Voters who can be flexible, may want to avoid the peak times.”

Those who arrive at polling stations after 10pm will not be allowed to vote, but those queuing until after that time having arrived before then will still be allowed.

Voters are encouraged to read and bring their poll card to their relevant polling station, leaving plenty of time to get there.

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The poll card is not a required item that must be brought, but Mr Sampson explained that it will tell voters which station to go to and will help speed up the process in the stations.

Poll cards should have already arrived in the post and those who are making a postal vote should have posted their ballot back in plenty of time.

Any postal votes that arrive after 10pm on June 23 will not be counted, but residents who have forgotten to post their ballot back can hand it into any local polling station on the day.

Voters should mark their ballot paper with one ‘X’ only beside the option to ‘Remain a member of the European Union’ or ‘Leave the European Union’.

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The count for the Harrogate Borough is taking place at the Harrogate International Centre and the result of the local voters is expected at around 3am-4am.

The district’s results will be announced by Mr Sampson.

For more information visit www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or call the council’s electoral services team on 01423 500600.