ONE in ten people in Southampton are not registered to vote in the forthcoming general and Local elections.

With just over five weeks before the registration deadline, the man in charge of organising this year’s ballots urges Daily Echo readers who have not yet secured their vote to get in touch with Southampton City Council and do so.

Mark Heath, the city’s electoral registration and returning officer, said: “This is the chance for our residents to make a real difference in their communities, by voting on the issues which will affect them.”

According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, 191,700 residents in Southampton, aged 18 and older, are eligible to register. However, the City Council says only 174,078 people within the city’s boundaries have so far done so.

At the 2005 general election, just 57.5 per cent of people voted in Southampton Test and 55 per cent in Southampton Itchen. Both were lower than the UK average of 61.4 per cent.

Local elections – when one third of Southampton City Council seats will be up for grabs – are fixed for May 6. The general election is widely expected to be held on the same day to maximise turnout.

Ring 023 8083 2245 for details on how you can register to vote.