ON Thursday, May 22, the 2014 European Parliamentary elections are taking place across the country.

It’s crucial in the run-up to the elections that the public know how to exercise their right to vote. Whether you’ve already decided who to vote for or are still thinking about how to cast your vote, there’s one vital step you need to take. You need to register to vote now as time is running out.

The deadline for registration is Tuesday, May 6.

Why does this matter? If you’re not registered by the deadline then you won’t be able to have your say on election day. You must be on the current electoral roll in order to cast a vote.

Our research shows that 44 per cent of people who are not registered to vote mistakenly believe they are. Many people believe that if they are registered to pay council tax then they are automatically registered to vote. This just isn’t true.

Registering to vote is free, easy to do and only takes a few minutes. Visit www.

aboutmyvote.co.uk and print off a registration form, fill in your details and send it back to the local Electoral Registration Officer.

Remember: it’s your vote, don’t lose it!

GARETH HALLIWELL

Electoral Commissioner

Wales The Electoral Commission