The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is reminding residents to ensure they’re ready to vote in the Local Elections, as candidates are announced today – a month until polling day.
A total of 126 people have put themselves forward across 19 wards to stand as borough candidates on Thursday 4 May. The details of valid nominations are available at www.rbwm.gov.uk/elections-2023
The borough operates by a system of whole council elections every four years, meaning all 41 seats across all 19 wards are available. Borough wards have either two or three seats, meaning voters can choose up to that number of candidates.
In addition, all 14 parish councils have all-out elections this year. However, there will only be contested parish elections as follows:
• Cookham Parish Council – in all three parish wards (Cookham ward, Cookham Rise ward, and Cookham West ward)
• Sunninghill and Ascot Parish Council – in one of the two parish wards (Sunninghill and South Ascot ward)
• Wraysbury Parish Council (not a warded parish)
• Sunningdale Parish Council (not a warded parish)
Polling cards were dispatched last month to those already on the electoral register. However it is not too late to register – the last date is Monday 17 April at 11.59pm. Registering to vote is easiest online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Voters will have the usual range of options for casting their ballot – in person, by post, or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote.
Due to a national legal change, for the first time you will need to show photo ID in order to vote at a polling station. A wide range of photo ID will be accepted, including passports, driving licences and cards with a PASS Mark.
If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply by 5pm on Tuesday 25 April for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. Visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID or call 0800 328 0280 to find out more and apply.
The deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications is 5pm on Tuesday 18 April. The deadline for receiving new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy or emergency proxies) is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.
Further voter information and application forms to vote by post or proxy are available at https://www.gov.uk/how-to-vote Paper copies of application forms can also be requested by contacting the local Elections Helpline via 01628 683868 or electoral.registration@rbwm.gov.uk For more information about eligibility to vote, visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk