Thousands warned: do not lose your vote

As many as 60,000 people in Brighton and Hove are at risk of losing their vote.

Electoral reforms are currently taking place ahead of next year's general and local elections.

Brighton and Hove City Council has written to residents explaining the changes, and warning tens of thousands they need to act or potentially lose their right to vote.

And even those who have been registered to vote in previous elections may need to act or risk being disappointed come election night.

A statement on the council's website explained: 'In Brighton and Hove around 60,000 residents may need to take action to join the new register, even if they were registered in the past.

'The registration system changed in June and this is the biggest reform to the voter registration system in a century.'

A new system, called individual electoral registration, is now in use, replacing the old method which allowed the head of a household to register everyone who lived at an address.

Now the responsibility is down purely to each individual potential voter.

It also means people can register online (at www.gov.uk register-to-vote) and the hope is voters will make sure they are fully registered ahead of next year's vote all-important vote.

To register successfully people need to provide more details than in previous years, including their national insurance number and date of birth.

According to the council statement: 'This helps make the electoral register more secure.'

It continued: 'Most people who are already registered have been transferred automatically to the new register.

'However, around 60,000 will need to re-register in the Brighton and Hove area.

'There are also people in the area who are not registered to vote at all and so need to register to have their say in elections.'

Locals will shortly receive a letter telling them whether or not they need to re-register and giving details on how to do so - including for those without internet access.