VOTERS have just five days left to apply to vote by post in the May 2021 elections.

On Thursday 6 May elections will be held for Cornwall Council, town and parish councils, and the Devon and Cornwall Police Crime Commissioner.

Voters have a range of options for casting their ballot — in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote for the upcoming elections is 5pm on Tuesday 20 April.

Postal votes are sent to your home address, or any other address you specify, usually 10 days before the date of the election. They must be returned to Cornwall Council before the close of poll.

Anyone who wants to vote by post or by proxy, can request an application form by calling Cornwall Council on 0300 1231 115 or you can download them from the Cornwall Council website. The form must be printed and signed with a wet signature. A digital signature cannot be accepted. Once completed, send the form to Cornwall Council by post. Alternatively you can scan the completed form and send a copy as an email attachment (as a PDF or JPEG file) to [email protected]">[email protected].

During the pandemic Royal Mail introduced Priority Post Boxes to help with the collection and delivery of Coronavirus test kits. Royal Mail is now urging postal voters to utilise this enhanced collection service when posting their vote.

You can find your nearest Priority Post Box on the Royal Mail website.

To have your say in the May 2021 elections you must be registered to vote by midnight on Monday 19 April.