Online voting gets underway for VN Council elections 2004

From today, veterinary nurses will be able to vote in the 2004 VN Council elections. Ballot papers were posted to all listed veterinary nurses yesterday, together with the manifestos of the five candidates standing in this year's election.

For the first time this year, in an attempt to make the voting process quicker and more accessible, VNs can choose to vote online or by telephone (Freephone 0800 081 0201) in preference to the more traditional postal method. It is hoped that this will also help to improve on last year's low turnout of just 8%.

The new voting methods are independently coordinated and securely hosted by Electoral Reform Services Ltd.

This election marks the final stage of the VN Council's establishment. The two candidates nominated this year will bring the total number of VNs on the Council to a majority of eight; in addition, there are six veterinary surgeons nominated from the RCVS Council and one lay member.

Chairman of the VN Council, Roger Eddy, has urged VNs to use their vote saying, "If you do not know the candidates personally, please read their statements and vote for the one(s) you think should best represent your profession. The VN Council does play a key role in the future of veterinary nursing."

All votes, whether postal, electronic or telephone, must be received no later than 5pm on Friday 7 May 2004.