Have your say in the European elections

More than five million people across North West England have the opportunity to vote in these elections to select the region’s eight Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

The North West European Elections take place across the region on Thursday, May 23.

The count of those ballot papers will take place on Sunday, May 26 in Macclesfield, with the declaration taking place in Manchester on the same day, after polls close across Europe.

Kath O'Dwyer, Cheshire East Council’s local returning officer for the European elections in the borough, said: “It is important for the vigour and strength of our democracy that residents engage with the democratic process and that people, who are eligible, go out and vote on polling day and have their say.

“If you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice. So I would urge every registered voter to take the time to vote and be heard.”

Kath O'Dwyer, local returning officer

European Union citizens living in the North West, who are registered to vote, can vote in either the UK or in their country of origin – but not both.

A full list of candidates for the European Parliament Elections can be viewed online.

The European Parliament Elections are run using a form of proportional representation. Voters have one vote only and this can be cast for either a political party or an individual candidate.

Each political party puts forward a list of candidates for the North West and the number of MEPs that are elected will depend on the overall share of the vote that a party or individual candidate receives in the region.

MEPs represent the whole of the North West region – so everybody who is eligible to vote in the region will be voting for the same list of parties and candidates.