WITH the prospect of two Ross-on-Wtye Town Council ward by-elections being held in August, residents are being urged to check their electoral registration details or risk losing their chance to vote on decisions that affect them.

With candidates already declared in Ross East from the LibDems, Reform, Labour and an Independent, and with nominations closing this Friday, July 18, an election will be held on August 14.

The by-elections have been caused following the resignations of Cllr Rob Taylor (Ross West) and Cllr Corina Lodea (Ross East).

Cllr Taylor previously stood for the Independents for Herefordshire group at county elections the Ross West ward in 2023, losing out to Louis Stark of the Liberal Democrats.

Cllr Lodea was part of the majority LibDem group on the town council, a majority not at risk from this election.

The annual canvass allows Herefordshire Council to keep the electoral register up to date, to identify who risks losing their voice at elections, and to encourage them to register before it’s too late.

Colette Maund, electoral services manager at Herefordshire Council said: “The annual canvass is our way of making sure that the information on the electoral register for every address is accurate and up to date.

“To make sure you don’t lose your say at upcoming elections, please simply follow the instructions sent to you.”

Recent home movers in particular are urged to check their details. Electoral Commission research has found that recent home movers are less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time. In Great Britain, 92 per cent of those who have lived in their home for 16 years will be registered, compared with 36 per cent of people who have lived at an address for less than a year.