THERE are just days left to make sure you have your say in one of the most dramatic General Elections in recent history.

Monday is the deadline for voter registration – and a last-ditch attempt has been launched to get as many people as possible signed up to vote.

As the Daily Echo revealed earlier this year there are so many people not signed up to vote that they could hold the balance of power in a number of key seats in Hampshire.

A change in electoral registration has meant many people have fallen off the electoral roll and will not have a chance to vote unless they sign up in the next five days.

The Daily Echo recently reported that 116,000 people had fallen off the electoral roll in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The biggest fall in Hampshire residents was in Southampton where 37,037 people had disappeared.

The Electoral Commission, which has been running a campaign to get “lost” voters signed up, says its research shows recent home movers, young people, students and members of certain ethnic minority communities are less likely to be registered to vote.

Kay Jenkins, head of English regions at the Electoral Commission, said: “Time is running out for anyone who hasn’t got around to doing it yet. It now takes just a few minutes to complete a registration application with the new online system so we are encouraging everyone to do this as quickly as possible before the deadline on April 20.”

Southampton City Council’s electoral registration officer, Mark Heath, said: “Anyone not yet registered to vote should do so as soon as possible if they want to be able to have their say on a whole range of issues that affect their everyday lives.

“It’s been five years since the last General Election and we don’t want anyone to miss out on having their say on polling day.”

Universities in Hampshire have also been encouraging their students to register, with the University of Southampton launching its Your Vote, Your Voice campaign earlier this year.

Vice president in student engagement Ellie Cawthera from the University of Southampton Students Union (SUSU) said: “This year is a General Election year and on May 7, our vote becomes our voice on who runs the country.

“For many of us, this will be the first General Election we vote in and our voices deserve to be heard. SUSU have been working hard to ensure students can make a fully informed vote.

Politicians only write their policies for people who vote. In 2010 the media called students the silent and apathetic generation because we didn’t vote. I want to change this.”

For the first time it is now possible to easily apply to register online at www.gov.uk/registertovote.

Anyone who is unable to register online who would like more information on registering can get in touch with Southampton City Council’s elections services on 023 8083 2245 and ask for a paper application to be sent to them.

Completed forms should be returned in the reply paid envelope enclosed or via: FREEPOSTRTKU-LUJL-HCYG Electoral Services, Civic Centre, Southampton, SO14 7LY.