The Royal Borough is reminding residents to ensure they’re ready to vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) election by checking if they have an accepted form of photo ID – and applying for a free voter ID document if they do not.
By law, you need to bring along and show accepted photo ID in order to vote at a polling station at the PCC election on Thursday 2 May. You will be able to use expired ID if you are still recognisable from the photo.
A wide range of photo ID are accepted including a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK or EEA driver’s licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. The Resident Advantage Card is not an accepted form of ID for voting.
If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. Visit https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id or call 0800 328 0280 to apply and check the full list of accepted forms of ID.
The deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications for the PCC election is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April. The deadline for receiving new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy or emergency proxies) is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.
The last date for registering to vote for this election is Tuesday 16 April at 11.59pm. Registering to vote is easiest online via https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote Those who have recently moved home should also register at their new address.
As a result of national legal changes, you now have the additional option to apply online to vote by post or proxy at https://www.gov.uk/how-to-vote You will also need to prove your identity when applying to vote by post and proxy, by providing your National Insurance number (or a reason why one cannot be provided).
There are new limits on how many people a voter can act as a proxy for. You can only act as a proxy for two people living in the UK. If you act as a proxy for people living overseas, you can act as proxy for up to four people, but only two of these can be based in the UK. Your proxy will need to show their photo ID at the polling station.
In addition, voters will only able to hand in their own postal vote, and the postal votes of up to five other people, at a polling station.
Paper copies of application forms can still be requested by contacting the local Elections Helpline via 01628 683868 or mailto: electoral.registration@rbwm.gov.uk For more information about eligibility to vote, visit https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/