With only one week to go until the voter registration deadline for next month's local elections, anyone who is not already registered and wanting to vote, must make sure they are registered in time.

The deadline to register to vote is midnight on 14 April. You can apply online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. It takes just five minutes.

Poll cards have already been sent to those who registered by mid-March.

On Thursday 5 May, voters will go to the polls to have their say on who represents them at a local level. This year, Mendip residents will be voting to select Councillors for Somerset County Council, and for City, Town and Parish councils, which represent their local area.

Stuart Brown, the Electoral Registration Officer for Mendip District Council, said: "Electing the County Council, which will then become the new unitary council on 1 April 2023, will be the biggest re-organisation of local authority structures in Somerset in almost 50 years.

"These elections are an important opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Somerset."

"In order to be able to vote, residents must be on the electoral register. So, if you're not registered by midnight 14 April, you won't be able to take part."

Voters have a range of options – they can vote in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 19 April, and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on 26 April. However, in order to use either of these options, you must be registered to vote by 14 April.

For information on how to register to vote, or how to apply to vote by post or by proxy, voters can visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter.