Check your municipal voter registration, business ratepayers told
City Hall has urged business ratepayers to check that they are eligible for the corporation election in Hamilton on May 11 — the first to be held in four years.
Votes will also be cast for the Corporation of St George on the same day.
Those wishing to participate have until Thursday to ensure that their details are correct.
The elections come in the wake of MPs passing legislation to limit term times for members of the corporations in the capital and St George to two years while a battle over the planned abolition of the bodies by the Government is fought out in the Privy Council in London.
Charles Gosling, the Mayor of Hamilton, has called for the vote to be used as a “referendum“ on the future of how the capital should be run.
Dwayne Caines, the City of Hamilton’s chief executive officer, said: “Once an election is announced, there is a very short window in which business ratepayers can register their company to vote or make any amendments to their registration.
“The last day to register for the May 2023 election is this Thursday, April 6.
“The Parliamentary Registrar is in the process of reviewing the voters list, as is required by law, for the upcoming municipal elections.
A business ratepayer is eligible to register for a municipal election if:
• he/she is a sole proprietor, company association, partnership or commercial property owner within the municipality
• he/she is eligible to be charged rates within the respective municipal area
• he/she is registered on the Parliamentary Register in another constituency outside the municipal area for which he/she is eligible to be charged rates
• the company/business is not a subsidiary of other business ratepayers, exempted companies and exempted partnerships.
Each business ratepayer is entitled to one vote only. If a business ratepayer is also a resident of the municipality, they must vote as a resident and nominate someone to cast their vote as a business ratepayer.
“I encourage any businesses that are new to Hamilton and are eligible to register as soon as possible.
“All businesses previously registered should confirm their registration with the Parliamentary Registrar and make any necessary amendments such as change of address and any changes to their nominee that votes on behalf of the business.
“It is important to note that while residents, if they are on the Parliamentary Registry, are automatically registered on the municipal lists, Hamilton businesses are required to register.
“We haven’t had a city election in four years and business details are apt to change.”
Business ratepayer registration forms are available at the Parliamentary Registry on the third floor of Craig Appin House, Wesley Street.
Those who are already listed on the Business Ratepayers Register do not need to register again unless changes need to be made to their existing details. They can check their registration at www.elections.gov.bm.
Once completed, the form should be returned to the office of the Parliamentary Registrar via e-mail at pro@gov.bm, Mr Caines said.
Further information can be obtained from the Parliamentary Registry directly on 293-VOTE (8683).
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