THERE are just days left to make sure you have your say in one of the most dramatic General Elections in recent history.

This Monday is the deadline for voter registration – and a last-ditch attempt has been launched to get as many people as possible signed up to vote.

There are so many people not signed up to vote that they could hold the balance of power in a number of key seats in Hampshire.

A change in electoral registration has meant many people have fallen off the electoral roll and will not have a chance to vote unless they sign up in the next five days.

An estimated 116,000 people had fallen off the electoral roll in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The biggest fall in Hampshire residents was in Southampton where 37,037 people had disappeared.

The Electoral Commission, which has been running a campaign to get “lost” voters signed up, says its research shows recent home movers, young people, students and members of certain ethnic minority communities are less likely to be registered to vote.

Kay Jenkins, head of English regions at the Electoral Commission, said: “Time is running out for anyone who hasn’t got around to doing it yet. It now takes just a few minutes to complete a registration application with the new online system so we are encouraging everyone to do this as quickly as possible before the deadline on April 20.”

Universities in Hampshire have also been encouraging their students to register, with the University of Southampton launching its Your Vote, Your Voice campaign earlier this year.

For the first time it is now possible to easily apply to register online at www.gov.uk/registertovote.

Applications to register to vote in Winchester must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at the city council offices in Colebrook Street by 12 midnight on Monday April 20. To register to vote, people can call the registration team at 01962 848125.

The deadline for applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes must reach the Electoral Registration Officer on Tuesday April 21.

Applications to vote by proxy must be in by 5pm on Tuesday April 28.

The deadline for applications to vote by emergency proxy on the grounds of physical incapacity or for work/service reasons must be in by 5pm on Thursday May 7.

The incapacity must have occurred after 5pm on Tuesday April 28. To apply on the grounds of work/service, the person must have become aware that they cannot go to the polling station in person after 5pm on Tuesday April 28.