Today is the final deadline for Milton Keynes residents who want to have their say in next month's council elections

Milton Keynes ward councillors, some parish councillors and a Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley will be elected this year in polls postponed from May 2020.

The deadline for applications to register to vote is midnight tonight (Monday 19 April).

It takes less than five minutes to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and all that is needed is a date of birth and national insurance number. Residents that have already received a Poll Card do not need to register again.

Polling stations will be safe places to vote in May, says MK Council. Many of the Covid-19 safety precautions that voters will be accustomed to in shops will be in place, including hand sanitiser, anti-bacterial wipes, face coverings and one-way systems.

But instead of visiting a polling station, you can apply for a postal vote. Applications must be received by 5pm tomorrow, Tuesday April 20.

Application forms are available here and must be printed, completed and then a clear images emailed to [email protected].

You can also apply to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf. These applications must be received by 5pm on April 27.

Application forms are available at www.gov.uk/government/collections/proxy-voting-application-forms and must be printed, completed and then clear images emailed to http://[email protected].

The person appointed as a proxy must go to the elector's allocated polling station and there are limits on the number of people one person can act as a proxy for.