Election Writ Issued by Royal Command

Published on 15 April 2010

The official start of the parliamentary elections was declared on Tuesday 13 April 2010 when an official writ from the Queen was hand delivered to Ian Willett, the Acting Returning Officer for the Epping Forest district.

The writ is issued by the monarch when Parliament is dissolved and it authorises the Acting Returning Officer to hold a general election on Thursday 6 May 2010.

When the election result is declared, the Returning Officer completes the reverse side of the writ with the result and returns it to Parliament, hence the name Returning officer.

Ian Willett said: “I am very pleased to announce the official start of the election process, which is now only 3 weeks away. As the Acting Returning Officer I look forward to my role in declaring the election results. Over the last few months the elections team at Epping Forest District Council have been working very hard preparing for this election.

I would like the public to make a note of these very important dates in the election timetable:
• Tuesday 20 April 2010 - last date that you can register to vote or apply to vote by post
• Tuesday 27 April 2010 - last date that you can apply for a proxy vote
• Thursday 6 May 2010 - voting for the UK Parliamentary and District elections starts at 7am and finishes at 10pm.

Please make sure you are able to vote, if you are unsure telephone us on 01992 564411. Register to vote now and make sure your voice is heard."

The writ reads:

"Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith To the Returning Officer for the Epping Forest Constituency Greeting. Whereas by the advice of Our Council We have ordered a Parliament to be holden at Westminster on the eighteenth day of May next We command you that due notice being first given you do cause election to be made according to law of a Member to serve in Parliament for the said Epping Forest constituency And that you do cause the name of such Member when so elected whether he be present or absent to be certified to Us in Our Chancery without delay. Witness Ourself at Westminster the twelfth day of April in the fifty-ninth year of Our Reign and in the year of Our Lord Two thousand and ten"

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