Register for a say in verderers vote (From Salisbury Journal)
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Register for a say in verderers vote
6:00pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in News By Miranda Robertson
THE deadline to register to be able to vote for Verderers is Friday.
The electoral register for this year’s Verderers’ Election is currently being revised. The court must receive completed registration forms by September 7.
Registration forms for this year’s election have been sent out to everyone who was eligible to vote in 2009 and whose name was on the 2009 register.
If you have recently received a form, and you still qualify for inclusion on the register, and you wish to be included in the 2012 register, you must return your form now.
Many people who live in and around the Forest occupy land that benefits from common rights and which, therefore, entitles them to vote.
If you occupy land, which may or may not include a house or other building, that extends to at least one acre you are entitled to vote on Friday, November 30.
In the case of joint occupancy, each person is required to occupy a minimum of one acre.
Voting is carried out in the same way as any other election, with polling stations at convenient locations around the Forest.
Copies of the form are available from the Verderers’ office or from verderers.org.uk.
Completed forms must be returned to the Verderers’ office or, the Electoral Reform Service in the business reply envelope provided.
Anyone who is uncertain about their entitlement can call 023 8028 2052 to request a search of the Forest Atlas of Rights. The searches are free for election purposes.
A spokesman said: “The Verderers protect the open land of the New Forest against development and misuse. They also regulate the exercise of common rights, ensuring a high standard of animal welfare, and they look after the interests of those who farm in the Forest.
“Registering and exercising a right to vote is therefore important for anyone interested in the Forest and its future.
“The register is small, just under 1,000 names, so every vote carries considerable weight.
“This is your chance to make a real contribution to the Forest’s future.”
