The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is reminding residents of key deadlines for voting at the Local Elections – and to ensure they have accepted photo ID if they wish to vote at a polling station.
On Thursday 4 May, all-out elections will take place for the borough council, with 126 candidates putting themselves forward across all 41 seats and 19 wards. Candidate details and election information is available at www.rbwm.gov.uk/elections-2023
In addition, all 14 parish councils will have all-out elections, though there will only be contested parish elections within four parishes. There will also be a local referendum in the Datchet parish about the proposed Datchet Neighbourhood Plan.
Polling cards were dispatched last month to those 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 on election day in order to vote at a polling station.
A wide range of photo ID will be 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 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 apply and check the full list of accepted forms of ID. You will be able to use expired ID if you are still recognisable from the photo.
The deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications, or amending any existing postal or proxy vote arrangements, 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 mailto: electoral.registration@rbwm.gov.uk For more information about eligibility to vote, visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk