Voting in this year's RCVS Council elections has now opened, and veterinary surgeons who are eligible to vote can do so either online or by post.

A number of candidates have already come to the VetSurgeon.org forums to discuss their candidacy and help voters decide whether they're worthy of your vote; their individual discussion threads are linked to below. 

The College points out that there is a new voting platform this year, designed to make it easier to vote online. 

The new system includes regular personalised email reminders from Electoral Reform Services which include a link to the voting platform and the ability to log in securely straight away, without having to refer to the ballot paper in order to find the security codes. Using the email address provided the College, veterinary surgeons can also ask ERS to reissue the security codes if needs be.

Voting for both of this year’s elections opened on Friday 24 March with an email sent to all those eligible to vote for whom the College holds an email address. Ballot papers have also been despatched to all eligible voters along with booklets containing the candidates’ biographies, contact details and manifestos. Instructions on how to vote online and by post are included with the ballot papers.

There are 16 candidates contesting six places on RCVS Council, including three existing Council members eligible for re-election and 13 candidates not currently on Council. They are:

• Dr Caroline Allen MRCVS
• Miss Sarah Brown MRCVS
• Mr Danny Chambers MRCVS
• Mr John Davies MRCVS
• Dr Chris Gray MRCVS
• Mr David Leicester MRCVS
• Dr Tom Lonsdale MRCVS
• Mr Martin Peaty MRCVS
• Mr Matthew Plumtree MRCVS
• Dr Cheryl Scudamore FRCVS
• Dr Huw Stacey MRCVS
• Dr Christopher Tufnell MRCVS
• Mr Kevin Watts MRCVS
• Dr Trevor Whitbread MRCVS
• Dr Thomas Witte MRCVS
• Mr James Yeates FRCVS

All votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday 28 April 2017.

Once again this year the College invited members of both professions to ‘Quiz the candidates’ by putting their questions directly to all those standing for election. Some of the key themes this year included Brexit, complementary/ alternative therapies, the structure of the veterinary industry, out-of-hours work and veterinary nurse remuneration among others.

Each candidate was invited to choose two questions to answer from all those received and produce a video recording of their answers. 

These videos, along with biographies and statements for each candidate, are available to view on the RCVS website at www.rcvs.org.uk/vetvote17.

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vets.