The deadline for registering to vote in the May 7 elections is looming.

The deadline for registration is April 20 but the council is urging anyone not yet registered to do so as soon as possible.

It is also asking all electors to check their poll cards carefully to see if the polling stations they have previously used have changed.

Many areas have been affected but the biggest number of changes have taken place in Chatteris, Wisbech, Whittlesey, March North Ward and Leverington, following a number of consultations and subsequent polling district review.

Poll cards were sent out yesterday. They may take a couple of days to arrive because of the large volumes involved and some household members may receive theirs before others.

Electors should keep their cards safe. Although it is not necessary to take them to the polling station to vote, it will save time on the day if people do.

Next month’s elections will be the biggest electoral exercise ever staged in Fenland. It is the first time that Parliamentary, district and town/parish elections are being held on the same day.

Voters will be electing an MP for the North East Cambridgeshire constituency and, where contested, for 39 councillors for Fenland District Council and 157 councillors for the 16 town and parish councils.

Information about all the candidates standing in each of the elections will be available from 4pm on Friday, April 10. Details will be available at www.fenland.gov.uk/elections.

People can register to vote online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. To register by phone or request a paper form, call FDC’s election team on 01354 654321. You will need to provide a few more details, including your National Insurance number and date of birth.

Applications for postal votes must be submitted by 5pm on April 21. To apply for a postal vote, you must be registered under the new system of Individual Elector Registration (IER). Your poll card which will tell you if you need to re-register.

Initial postal vote packs will be sent on April 20, with subsequent postings for people who have applied between April 10 up to and including the April 21 deadline.

For more information about registering, visit www.gov.uk/yourvotematters