THERE are less than two weeks left to register to vote in the European Parliamentary Election, which the UK is set to participate in on May 23.

The registration process takes five minutes but needs to be completed before midnight on Tuesday, May 7.

People can register by visiting gov.uk/register-to-vote.

As the election takes place just after a bank holiday weekend, people may have already made plans and cannot get to the polls.

If that’s the case, the deadline for applying to vote via post is 5pm on Wednesday, May 8 and the deadline for appointing a proxy on their behalf is 5pm on Wednesday, May 15.

More details can be found at wiltshire.gov.uk/elections-register-to-vote.

Wiltshire Council is busy arranging the logistics of putting the election on in Wiltshire at short notice including booking polling station venues, recruiting and training staff and arranging poll cards to be issued.

The polls will be open on Thursday, May 23 from 7am until 10pm with the count taking place on May 26.

Carlton Brand, Wiltshire Council executive director and Wiltshire’s returning officer, said: “Given the time we have to plan, this is a logistically challenging election to arrange to say the least, but our staff have a tremendous track record and are working really hard to ensure it’s successfully run.

“I would urge people to ensure they are on the register and make sure they have their say on 23 May.

"This is also the first major election that people born in the 21st century will be able to vote in, so I hope plenty of young people take up the opportunity and responsibility they now have.”

Wiltshire Council is also looking for people to fill presiding officer and poll clerk roles at the polling stations.

People will be paid for their time with the fee for presiding officer at £240 + £50 for attending a training session.

For a poll clerk it’s £124 and £50 for attending a training session.

Anyone interested in either role, should contact the election team at electionstaff@wiltshire.gov.uk stating their name and address, the position they are applying for and their area e.g. Salisbury, Trowbridge, Chippenham

More information about the European Parliamentary Election can be found at wiltshire.gov.uk/elections-european-parliamentary