Referendum - 5 May Election

There will be a nation-wide referendum on the parliamentary voting system on 5 May and every registered voter will have the opportunity decided whether changes should be made or if it should remain the same.

A referendum asks you to vote yes or no to a proposal. For this referendum, you will receive a ballot paper with this question: At present, the UK uses the 'first past the post' system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the 'alternative vote' system be used instead?

To find our about the reasons to vote 'No' visit the No Campaign website for detail of why they think we should continue using the first past the post system. 

The campaigners for a 'Yes' vote have set out their reason they think we should change to the AV system on their website here.

If more people vote 'yes' than 'no' in the referendum, then the 'alternative vote', or AV, system will be used for future parliamentary elections.

There will be no elections for councillors in Hackney on this day however, it is still important that everyone registered to vote does so.

If you are unsure if you are eligible to vote, you can find out here.

If you are eligible, but are not registered to vote, you need to register to vote by 14 April.
If you are registered, but would like to apply for a postal or proxy vote, please see the ways to vote page on the council's website.

You can read more about the referendum on the About My Vote website or watch the video from their website.

Have Your Say on Scrutiny

Scrutiny plays an important role in the development of better policies and improving performance, and can hold the Council and outside agencies to account, including police and the health service.

Last year's survey found that making the borough safer was the top priority, so one of the Scrutiny Commissions completed a review of how the council and police are working together to address gun and knife crime. Residents also said that education services were important, so a Commission reviewed local achievement at Key Stage 2.

What matters to you most locally? Fill in the short survey online and help to influence the work of Hackney Council's scrutiny commissions.



You can follow the work of the Community Safety and Social Inclusion Panel chaired by Councillors Carole Williams here and the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Panel chaired by Councillor Philip Glanville here.