THE names have been published of the candidates nominated to stand in next month’s Hampshire County Council elections.

In East Hampshire, there are seven seats up for grabs in seven electoral divisions on May 4 – Alton Rural; Alton Town; Catherington; Liphook, Headley and Grayshott; Petersfield Butser; Petersfield Hangers; and Whitehill, Bordon and Lindford.

A county-wide election takes place every four years and voters in all 76 electoral divisions choose who they want to run the range of essential local services that impact on all aspects of everyday life for 1.3 million people living in the county council area – from education, roads and social care for vulnerable children and adults to access to the countryside and libraries.

?Councillors represent all the people within their divisions, decide how £1.9bn of taxpayers’ money is spent each year, and make the policies to secure services for the residents of, and visitors to, Hampshire. They also provide a focus for people who have concerns or want things done, using their local knowledge of the area and the issues affecting residents to help the county council make decisions and check the quality of services it delivers.

County returning officer and Hampshire County Council chief executive John Coughlan said: “County council elections enable the democratic process to take place and provide an opportunity for members of the public to have their say at the ballot box. I would encourage everyone who is entitled to vote to turn out on May 4 and choose who they wish to represent them on the county council.”

To be eligible to vote, residents must be on the electoral register. The last date for registration is today – Thursday, April 13. To register, visit gov.uk/register-to-vote or call East Hampshire District Council on 01730 266551.

If you can’t get to the polling station on election day (but are registered), you can still vote by post or appoint someone (a proxy) to vote on your behalf. Contact EHDC who will send you a form. ?For anyone wishing to cast their vote by post, applications for postal votes must be received by EHDC by 5pm on Tuesday, April 18.

?For proxy vote applications, the deadline is 5pm on Tuesday, April 25.

The current political make-up of Hampshire County Council, following the last elections in May 2013 and five by-elections, is Conservatives – 47, Liberal Democrats – 16, UKIP – 7, Labour – 4, Community Campaign (Hart) – 1, Non-affiliated – 2, Vacant – 1.

The candidates:

Alton Rural: Rigby Andrews (UKIP), Nicholas Andrew Milburn James (Liberal Democrat), Mark Norman Kemp-Gee (Conservative and Unionist Party), Janice Mary Treacher (Labour), Christina Sheila West (Green).

Alton Town: Kellie Laraine Alison Griffin (Labour), Eleanor Hill (Green), Andrew Ian Philip Joy (Conservative and Unionist Party), John Pritchard (Liberal Democrat).

Liphook, Headley & Grayshott: Trevor John Maroney (Liberal Democrat), Floss Mitchell (Conservative and Unionist Party), John Michael Tough (Labour), Eddie Trotter (The Justice & Anti-Corruption Party).

Petersfield Butser: Helen Sonja Bolitho (Labour), Jim Makin (UKIP), Rob Mocatta (Conservative and Unionist Party), David George Podger (Liberal Democrat), Roger Martin Wallsgrove (Green).

Petersfield Hangers: Louise Bevan (Liberal Democrat), Malcolm David Bint (UKIP), Peter Grant Bisset (Green), Howard Jeremy Linsley (Labour), Russell Julian Oppenheimer (Conservative and Unionist Party), Steve Whiting (The Justice & Anti-Corruption Party).

Whitehill, Bordon &?Lindford: Adam Carew (Conservative and Unionist Party), Digby Somers Payne (Labour), Sally Jane Pond (Liberal Democrat), Neville Peter John Taylor (Independent).