Demand for postal votes has increased fourfold in four years since the last Braintree Council elections and people are being encouraged to use the vote they are entitled to.

With almost 11,000 people voting in the local council elections by post, the team needed to run the elections in the district is bigger than ever.

More than 400 people have been recruited from local companies and within Braintree Council itself.

A council spokeswoman said: "In the last elections four years ago, between 2,500 and 3,000 people used postal voting and there are four times as many this year.

"Unlike last time, people don't have to give reasons why they want to vote by post. There is no need to qualify for the postal vote. The Government changed the rule to encourage people to use their vote. Not everyone can get to the polling station on the day."

Postal votes need to be returned to the council by Wednesday to be counted and ready to add to the main ballot on Thursday.

Braintree Council is urging the potential electorate of 104,924 people to check their polling cards, which are currently arriving on doormats around the district, for their nearest polling station.

Due to changes in ward boundaries, the location of voters' nearest polling station might have changed. Even if it has been in the same location for many years, there may be a new location closer to home.

Polling stations will be open from 8am to 9pm.

Published Tuesday, April 29, 2003

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