Miss Liverpool City Region and Miss Southport Audition Dates Set

IF you want to become the next Miss Liverpool City Region or Miss Southport, the dates for auditions are as follows:-

► Miss Liverpool City Region Only - 15 March 2018, at Bar Signature, Stanley St, Liverpool, L1 6AU, from 4:30pm to 7:30pm.
Southport and Formby Area

► Miss Southport and Miss Liverpool City Region - The Cocoa House, on Lord Street, from 5pm to 6:30pm, on 9 March 2018.

► Miss Southport and Miss Liverpool City Region - Sacrebleu Bar and Coffee Lounge, on Seabank Road, from 7pm to 9pm, on 9 March 2018.

► Miss Southport and Miss Liverpool City Region - Auditions will also be held at Portland Hall Spa, on Portland Street, Southport, from 4pm to 6pm, on 11 March 2018.

For more information about both Heats visit:- Miss-Liverpool-City-Region.Com.

'Your vote is yours alone' - new campaign launched ahead of May elections to help prevent electoral fraud

A new campaign to help prevent electoral fraud has been launched ahead of May's local elections by the Electoral Commission, with the support of Crimestoppers, the independent crime reporting charity, and the Cabinet Office.

The 'Your vote is yours alone' campaign materials depict different types of electoral fraud offences taking place in a Polling Station or in someone's home as they complete their postal vote. They are designed to empower voters to protect their vote and report any concerns about possible fraud to the charity Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111 or via their anonymous online form which can be found at:- CrimeStoppers-UK.Org.

Local Authorities have been provided with resources, including:- videos, posters and a leaflet, which they can use in their local areas.

Claire Bassett, Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission, said:- "Whether you are voting in person at a Polling Station on 3 May or completing your postal vote at home, it's important your vote is yours alone. No 1 should feel pressured to vote a certain way. While proven cases of electoral fraud are rare, it remains a serious crime and those who commit it can be sentenced to time in prison."

Mark Hallas, Chief Executive of the charity Crimestoppers, said:- "Our democracy has taken shape over centuries and all of us should be aware that a tiny minority of people may try to thwart the outcome for their own personal gain. Electoral fraud jeopardises our tradition of free and fair elections, which is why we are delighted to be involved in this important campaign.  By highlighting the risks, we can ensure the public's trust in our country's electoral process is maintained. We urge people to contact our charity 100% anonymously if they know of someone committing electoral fraud."

What constitutes electoral fraud is not always well understood by voters. For example, some people may not think that interfering with a relative's vote could be a criminal offence. Previous research conducted on behalf of the Electoral Commission found that language barriers and a lack of awareness or understanding of how the UK's electoral system works can make people more vulnerable to electoral fraud. This research also suggested that these factors could disproportionately affect specific groups including women in particular communities.

The Commission is committed to overcoming this and to helping women, from all communities, to understand that it is their vote and their vote only. As part of this effort, posters and the leaflet have been translated in Punjabi, Urdu and Bengali.

All resources have been developed with support and advice from a number of Local Authorities who have experience of managing an increased risk of electoral fraud in their area.

Robert Connelly, Head of Electoral Services at Birmingham City Council, said:- "Along with a number of other Local Authorities, Birmingham has been working with the Electoral Commission on the best ways to raise awareness of the potential for electoral fraud. It is an important national issue and it is important that we play our part in increasing awareness and letting people know what to do if they have concerns.  While we must point out that it is just a very small number of people who would contemplate doing anything illegal around voting, it is important that people know that their vote is theirs alone and this campaign should go a long way to re-assuring people that allegations of fraud will be treated seriously."

Electoral fraud data and the Electoral Commission's work with the Police...

Allegations of electoral fraud reported to the Electoral Commission by Police Forces across the UK show that in 2017:-

► Police Forces investigated 336 cases of alleged electoral fraud. Of these, 104 alleged cases related to voting offences and 36 related to registration offences.

► 1 allegation of impersonation in a Polling Station led to 1 successful prosecution and conviction.

► 2 suspects accepted Police cautions in relation to impersonation when voting by post and 4 suspects accepted cautions in relation to registration offences.

The Commission continues to work closely with Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Returning Officers (ROs) providing guidance and support to ensure that they have arrangements in place with their local Police Force to respond to any allegations of fraud. The Electoral Commission also works with the National Police Chiefs' Council to provide guidance and support to Police Forces.

Your Voice, Your Vote

DON'T lose your voice…  That's the big message from Liverpool City Council to students across the City as the countdown to the local elections begins. This week the Council's Electoral Services team has been making contact with members of the City's student population who have not yet registered to vote.

People who come to Liverpool from other parts of the country to further their education are eligible to register to vote both at their home and University addresses.

The Council is sending out registration packs to students in halls of residence to allow them to register in the City. The team is also stressing that it's even easier for anyone to register online and it can be completed in less than 5 minutes.

The local elections take place on Thursday, 3 May 2018, when ⅓ of the Council's seats will be contested. The deadline for registration is Tuesday, 17 April 2018.

Liverpool City Council Returning Officer Jeanette McLoughlin, said:- "Students in the City are very much a part of the community and are affected by the same issues as everyone else. It's important that you have your say."

The message isn't just for students, because the Council is urging everyone who is eligible to vote to use their democratic right and make sure they are registered to vote.

If you are already registered to vote, you don't need to do anything more. Your poll card should arrive in early April 2018.

You can register to vote online.