Voting

Voter ID

Last year, the UK Government introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections.  If you do not provide photographic identity when you go to vote, you will not be issued with a ballot paper.

 

Which forms of ID can I use to vote?

You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable.  You can use any of the following:

 

•           Passport

•           Driving licence (including provisional license)

•           Blue badge

•           Certain concessionary travel cards

•           Identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)

•           Biometric Immigration document

•           Defence identity card

•           Certain national identity cards

 

For more information on which forms of photo ID will be accepted, click here.

 

If you don’t have an accepted form photo ID

If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate here.

 

 

Voting systems

Elections to become a councillor use the first past the post voting system. Voters cast their vote for a candidate of their choice – or candidates where more than one seat is up for election on the same ballot paper - and the candidate/s with the most votes is/are declared elected.

Register to vote

If you want to vote in this Election, you must be on the electoral register. 

If you are not already registered, you can register here.  The last day for you to register for this Election is midnight on 16 April. 

 

Who can vote on polling day

Different polls have different voter franchises. For the most up to date list on who can vote in different elections, visit the here.

For local elections in England, you must be:

  • Registered to vote
  • 18 or over on 4 May 2023.
  • A UK, Irish, EU or qualifying Commonwealth citizen *.

* A qualifying Commonwealth citizen is someone who has leave to enter or remain in the UK or does not require such leave. The list of qualifying countries, British Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories can be found on the Electoral Commission website.

Excluded from voting

The following groups are legally excluded from voting in local elections in England:

  • a convicted person (though remand prisoners, as yet unconvicted prisoners and civil prisoners can vote if they are on the electoral register).
  • have been found guilty within the previous five years of corrupt or illegal practices in connection with an election.

On Polling Day

  • Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm.
  • You can only cast your vote at the polling station you are registered at. The details will be printed on your poll card letter.
  • You don’t need your poll card letter with you to be able to vote, but it does speed the process up.
  • Make sure to check your poll card letter for any changes to your usual polling station location.

If you are in a queue to vote at a polling station by 10pm, you will still be able to vote past that time. The polling station team will close the queue at 10pm, but still allow everyone who arrived while the queue was open to cast their vote.