The countdown is on to the Scottish Parliamentary elections on Thursday 5 May and election officials in Renfrewshire are urging residents to secure their vote.

People in Renfrewshire will be eligible to vote in the election of MSPs for the West of Scotland Region – decided by proportional representation – in addition to one of three ‘first past the post’ constituency elections for the seats of Paisley, Renfrewshire North and West, and Renfrewshire South.

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Sandra Black, Returning Officer for the three constituency elections and Regional Returning Officer for the West of Scotland Region, said: “Everyone involved in preparing for and conducting the elections wants to make it as easy as possible for people to get advice and information.

“That applies to making sure you are able to vote or applying for a postal or proxy vote.”

Anyone wanting to vote must first be on the electoral register.

Sixteen and seventeen year olds will be eligible to vote for the first time in Scottish Parliamentary election. Those who registered to vote in the 2014 referendum on independence will have to register again for the 2016 elections as a separate register was used for the referendum.

Alasdair MacTaggart, Electoral Registration Officer with Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board, said: “Every year, the Electoral Registration Officer carries out a canvass to ensure that the register for Renfrewshire is up-to-date. Residents who fail to return their canvass form can have their names removed from the register.

“Even if someone pays council tax, they are not automatically registered to vote.”

People can check if their name is on the register by contacting the Electoral Registration Officer, The Robertson Centre, 16 Glasgow Road, Paisley PA1 3QF (Help Line 0300 300 0150) or asking in their local library.

Residents can also go online and register at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

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Founder of Paisley.org.uk in 1998 and constantly strives to change peoples attitudes to the town, Brian is a self described Paisley Digital Champion who promotes Paisley via any means necessary. You can also follow me on X