Are you on Holiday in May?

Call for vacationing voters to make sure they can still vote on 5 May

The Electoral Commission, the independent elections watchdog, is reminding people looking to take advantage of spring's bank holiday bonanza to make sure their right to vote doesn't fly away this year.

The Commission is calling on people to act now and apply for a postal or proxy vote if they're going to be away on Thursday 5 May for the referendum on the voting system for the UK parliament. Voters will also elect local councillors in some areas in the High Peak.

Electoral Commission Head of Campaigns, Clinton Proud said: "It only takes a few minutes to apply now to vote by post or proxy by printing off the forms from www.aboutmyvote.co.uk Then you'll be all set for Thursday 5 May, even if you're heading off for an Easter break or taking advantage of the extra bank holiday for the Royal Wedding."

• The Electoral Commission is responsible for the conduct of the referendum on 5 May.
• The question being put to voters is: "At present, the UK uses the 'first past the post' system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the 'alternative vote' system be used instead?"
  Vote (X) in one box only." (Yes or No).

To check whether you're eligible to vote in elections in your area or in the referendum, go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk