Thank You to the 24% of the Nevilles Cross electorate who have returned their postal ballots today.

Given all of the challenges, it is a credit to the Nevilles Cross community 24% of you had returned postal ballots verified today.

However, with an 88.8% rise in postal vote registrations since the last election in Nevilles Cross, it still leaves 1124 residents who are yet to returned their completed postal ballot.

We need another huge push from the community to get up to the 90% return level Nevilles Cross would expect at an election, and to have achieved it in eight less days.

But, in the rush to return, PLEASE TAKE CARE.

It is very sad to report that 3.8% of all Nevilles Cross postal ballots returned today had to be rejected on grounds of voting statement errors (no signature, no date) on envelope A.

Please remember to have your postal vote counted, you must sign the postal voting statement and YOUR DATE OF BIRTH in the boxes provided, not just cast your votes on the ballot papers, and post those back in envelope B.

I WANT TO VOTE. DO I STILL HAVE TIME WITH A POSTAL VOTE?

There is still time!

Anyone without any of their FOUR POSTAL BALLOT PAPERS (County Council, Parish Council, Crime Commissioner and Referendum) can request an emergency replacement is issued to them.

Replacement ballot papers should be requested by contacting Durham County Council Electoral Services at 03000 261 212 or electoralservices@durham.gov.uk

I commend anyone who has not had their postal vote to request a replacement.

Please remember posted with Royal Mail by Wednesday 5th May 2021, the council are confident they will arrive in time to be counted on Thursday 6th May.

However, if you are not confident in this, and you can, then I remind you your other options for ensuring your postal votes are counted are:

1. Dropped off at County Hall in person (during work hours) [Tue 2-Thur 6 May]
2. Posted through the letterbox at County Hall (out of hours), [Sat 1-Wed 5 May] or,
3. Handed in at a Durham County Council polling station on Thursday 6th May (between the hours of 0700-2200), with your Nevilles Cross ward polling stations located at:

St Leonard`s Catholic School (4691), Court Yard Room (CY 1), North End

The Spiritualist Church Hall (Durham), John Street

St Johns Church Hall (Nevilles Cross), Crossgate Peth, Nevilles Cross

St Johns Church Hall (Nevilles Cross), Crossgate Peth, Nevilles Cross

The Hub, Durham University, The Approach, Durham

St Oswalds Institute, Church Street