TORFAEN residents are encouraged to ensure their eligibility to vote in the forthcoming elections in May.

On Thursday, May 5, voters across Wales will go to the polls for the National Assembly and Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

At a National Assembly for Wales election, residents from the borough will be able to vote for regional and constituency Assembly Members.

These are the people responsible for making laws for Wales in a wide range of areas including health, education, and housing.

The Police and Crime Commissioner oversees the running of local police forces, including appointing the Chief Constable, setting the local budget and deciding what the priorities should be for the police in their area.

Anyone wishing to vote must be registered to do so, and the easy process can be done online at gov.uk/register-to-vote, with a person’s date of birth and national insurance number as references.

“Anyone not yet registered to vote should do so as soon as possible so they will be able to have their say on issues that directly affect their day-to-day lives in Wales,” said Rhydian Thomas, head of Wales office at the Electoral Commission.

It’s important that anyone who is eligible to be on the register, but has not yet registered, does so. The deadline to register to vote is Monday 18 April 2016.”

For more information contact Torfaen’s election team on 01495 762200.