With local borough and parish elections and a UK-wide referendum on Thursday May 5 Wokingham Borough Council is reminding voters what they need to know to have their say on polling day:

• Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm. Voters should have received a poll card with details of their local polling station. If not, please call: 0118 974 6522 and 0118 974 6523.
• When voting at a polling station, it’s helpful to take the poll card. But if you don’t have it, don’t let that stop you – you can still vote.
• Polling station staff will give you ballot papers for borough and parish elections - if appropriate - and, if you are eligible to vote in the UK-wide referendum, a ballot paper for that too. Staff will not be able to give you ballot papers after 10pm, so do arrive in good time.
• The referendum is on the voting system used for elections to the UK Parliament and the question being put to voters on Thursday May 5 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?”
• If you applied for a postal vote, it needs to be received by the electoral services office by 10pm on Thursday May 5. If you have left it too late to post back, you can drop it off at your polling station or at the civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham.
  
  

The council is also keen to remind voters, that in parts of Finchampstead South, Hurst and Hawkedon voting will be taking place in new locations:

• Voters in Finchampstead South ward who normally vote at Finchampstead Memorial Hall will now vote at Finchampstead Sports Pavilion
• Voters in Hurst ward who normally vote in the mobile unit at the Elephant and Castle public house will now vote at Hurst Village Hall
• Voters in Hawkedon ward who normally vote at Hawkedon School will now vote at Maiden Place Community Centre

Alison Wood, Electoral Services Manager, said: "We work hard behind the scenes to ensure elections run smoothly. Voting is an important way to make your voice heard. If anyone is unsure where their polling station is, please get in touch."

For more information about elections please visit the About My Vote website or the Wokingham Borough elections website page.