"What already?" I hear you ask, "it is only February and the election isn't supposed to be until May." Not the General Election - the Burngreave New Deal Election.

After many months of preparations decision day is only a few weeks away as local residents choose their five representatives on the New Deal Board. The Board has a vital role in deciding how the money awarded to the Burngreave area is spent over the next ten years.

Nominations closed at the end of January with no fewer than ten candidates entering the race. Residents will have a chance to meet the candidates at a special 'Hustings' meeting on 17 February.

The rules of the election are different from 'normal' elections because anyone over the age of 15 has the chance to vote, including people who would not normally be allowed to vote in Local Council and General Elections. Staff from Burngreave New Deal have been contacting people in the area who do not appear on the register to encourage them to get on it. Pupils from years 10 and 11 at Firth Park and Fir Vale School have been registering - the first time they have an opportunity to exercise their democratic rights.

If you want to be added to the list of people who can vote please contact the New Deal Office on 2796932 or Electoral Reform Services' help line on 020 8889 9203 and they will send you a form. The forms are very easy to complete - all you need to do is fill in your name, the address where you live in the New Deal area and a contact telephone number. Completed forms must be returned by 12 February.

Voters do not even have to go to a polling station to cast their vote. Ballot packs will be sent to every voter by post at the end of the second week in February. Each pack will contain a ballot paper, information about each of the candidates and a pre-paid envelope to return your ballot paper direct to the Independent Returning Officer from Electoral Reform Services. The deadline for receiving ballot papers will be about two weeks after the packs are sent out.

The results will be announced at the end of February and it will be straight down to hard work for the new Board Members, with many big decisions to be taken over the next few months.

Tony Slater - Electoral Reform Services

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