Postal voters' plea
Published on 8th February 2012
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Thousands of people in Sandwell with postal votes are being urged to provide elections chiefs with up-to-date signatures.
They h
ave over a month to do so - or face losing their right to vote by post.
Sandwell has about 23,500 people registered to vote by post.
The law says that the signature used to verify the vote has to be updated after five years.
This currently applies to just under a half of Sandwell's postal voters.
They have all now been sent a form to return to elections chiefs with a fresh signature.
"We have written to about 11,000 people to request them to provide an up-to-date signature," said Mr Jan Britton, Sandwell's chief executive and returning officer.
"They need to return their form quickly so their postal vote is not cancelled.
"They have until 13 March to do so."
The move comes well in advance of local elections, due to take place on Thursday 3 May.