You Can't Miss It - Public awareness campaign launches ahead of EU Referendum

Published: 19 May 2016

With the EU referendum fast approaching Glasgow City Council is urging residents to look out for the Electoral Commission's information booklet being delivered in the coming weeks. 

The referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union will take place on Thursday 23 June 2016.

The booklet, which will be delivered to every household across the UK over the next week, contains important information for voters on the referendum, how to register to vote and how to cast your vote.

Alongside delivery of the information guide, the Electoral Commission has launched its national voter registration campaign to remind people to register by the deadline of Tuesday 7 June.

Advertising will appear across TV, radio and online on demand video services encouraging viewers to make sure they don't miss the information booklet.

Glasgow City Council is also running a number of activities to encourage residents to register. These include providing support and information in libraries and community centres, holding registration stalls in shopping centres and canvassing in local areas.

Hugh Munro, Electoral Registration Officer for Glasgow City Council said: "There is still time to make sure you can take part in the EU referendum, so I'd encourage everyone in Glasgow to act now if they're not already registered to vote.

Our message is simple: you can't vote if you're not registered by Tuesday 7 June. It's easy to register and only takes a few minutes online - just head to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote .

If you are already registered to vote there is no need to register again for the EU referendum."

Andy O'Neill, Head of Electoral Commission, Scotland, said: "Keep an eye out for our information booklet which is being delivered to homes across the UK. It contains really important information on how to take part in this historic event.

We want to make sure that everyone who is eligible to take part, is able to. Our advice is to plan in advance where you will be on polling day. If you're likely to be away on the day and will be unable to get to the polling station then you can look at options for postal or proxy votes."

Not everyone who was eligible to vote at the Scottish Parliament elections on 5 May will be eligible to vote in the EU Referendum. You can check if you can vote in the referendum at glasgow.gov.uk/eu2016

If you are a British or Irish citizen (who was born in Northern Ireland) living abroad and were registered to vote in UK or Northern Ireland in the past 15 years then you can register as an overseas voter.  If you are resident outside the UK you will need to apply for an absent vote but if you don't act quickly you may miss out.  You can complete an application to register and if your last registered address was in Glasgow you can find application forms for voting by post or proxy at glasgow.gov.uk/eu2016 which you can return by email. 

To register to vote head to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.