By Simon Darby - I would imagine the vast majority of Britain's servicemen, having been dealt the news on Monday that some 500,000 people have slipped through our non-existent border controls, will be affected more than most. Having to serve in some of the world's most inhospitable, corrupt and dangerous countries the last thing you would want to hear is that "home" is rapidly going the same way.

In fact rather than spend their time imposing western standards on Muslim countries most of our boys and girls in the forces would much prefer the task of protecting our way of life from the dangers of expansionist Islam and foreign invasion. Indeed there is not a little irony in the shameful fact that many of troops abroad, whilst facilitating "democracy" in countries like Afghanistan , are effectively denied the right to vote themselves.

In modern Britain that shouldn't really be a surprise, the three "mainstream" parties would be quite at ease with a reservoir of inherently patriotic votes going untapped. It is therefore up to us to take a pro-active lead and make sure people who are prepared to lay down their lives for their nation at least have the right to determine its political orientation.

To be fair to the Electoral Commission, who realise that there is a serious shortfall in electoral engagement amongst forces personnel, they are trying to put things right. However, it is obvious that they could do more as they acknowledge that postal vote distribution timescales to those serving far afield could lead to many squaddies being timed out.

According to Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission, “The elections are now less than three months away so it is important that members of the armed forces and their families take a few minutes now to register to vote, or check that they are on the electoral register.

“If you want to vote you also need to think now about how you will cast your vote. This is particularly important if you are based overseas, so you avoid losing your say.

“Registration rates amongst the armed forces are lower than the general eligible population due to moving house, moving base and being deployed overseas so we want to make sure as many service personnel and their families as possible are on the electoral registers ahead of polling day.”

Couldn't have said it better myself, so with a view to the GLAs and local elections in May and the interesting electoral contests in November, it's time to do our bit.

We all know relatives, friends and friends of friends who are currently serving so why not take the time to print out this article and send it to them directly. Here's the link to all the information needed to get on the electoral register with the deadline being Wednesday 18th April.

From there you will encounter a form with which to add your postcode and your mission is nearly complete.  Just a few well aimed clicks can get a member of the armed forces serving abroad on the register for five years rather than just twelve months. The postcode example provided in the specimen box below being purely coincidental.