Just days left to register to vote or apply for a postal vote
Last updated: 4/20/2023 7:13:35 AM
Residents in Rushcliffe are being reminded there are just a few days left to register to vote, apply for a postal vote and ensure their voice is heard at the upcoming Rushcliffe Borough Council and Parish and Town Council Elections on May 4.
In order to vote in the local elections, residents must be on the electoral register and Rushcliffe Borough Council is encouraging people who have not registered at their current address to make sure they are registered in time.
The deadline to register to vote is 11:59pm next Monday, April 17 and it takes just five minutes to do so.
Voters have a range of options for casting their ballot with polling stations safe places to vote this year.
Or, they can also select to vote by post by downloading an application form.
Completed application forms to vote by post must be submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Electoral Services team at Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford NG2 7YG by no later than 5pm on Tuesday April 18.
Residents can also appoint someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote, by downloading an application form.
The Council’s Electoral Services team must receive the completed form to vote by proxy by no later than 5pm on Tuesday April 25.
Completed forms can also be scanned and emailed to elections@rushcliffe.gov.uk
Residents need to make sure they are registered to vote and have an accepted form of photo ID ready to show if voting in person at a polling station in this year’s polls.
It follows the UK Government introducing the requirement and will apply for the first time in England at the polls on Thursday May 4.
Forms of acceptable photo ID which can be used to vote with include:
- Passport
- Driving licence (including provisional licence)
- 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
The Council is aware some residents do not have any of these forms of ID and therefore they can apply for a free voter ID document known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
To get a Voter Authority Certificate, residents can complete an online form at gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-to-vote or, complete a paper application form and send to Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Electoral Services team.
Or, they can now attend one of the following in-person sessions to have a photo taken and the Voter Authority Certificate completed with one of the Council’s friendly Customer Services team.
The Borough Council elections will be full elections with all current 44 seats to be elected to and will be contested on the new ward boundaries that come into force on 4 May 2023 following a review undertaken by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
For the Parish and Town Council elections, there will also be full elections with 358 seats to be elected to 42 parishes.
The Council’s Returning Officer Katherine Marriott said: “Make sure you can take part in these elections by registering to vote before the deadline on April 17.
“It’s an opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Rushcliffe.
“We urge everyone to be prepared and ensure they have a form of photo ID ready to bring with them if voting in person at a polling station at the upcoming local elections on Thursday May 4.
“It’s absolutely vital that you bring appropriate ID with you otherwise, you won’t be able to vote.
“If you don’t wish to use photo ID we recommend you register for a postal vote by 5pm on April 18.
“If anyone has any other questions about registering to vote or the new photo ID requirement, get in touch with our Electoral Services team by emailing elections@rushcliffe.gov.uk or call 0115 981 9911.”
For information on elections in their area, how to register to vote, or how to apply to vote by post or by proxy, voters can visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter.