With less than one week left to register to vote for the local elections in England and Wales, the Electoral Commission is reminding voters that they must be registered to ensure their voice is heard on May 2.
Eligible voters will be able to pick the police and crime commissioner (PCCs) to represent Nottinghamshire. The role of a PCC is to make sure that the local police in their area is meeting the needs of the community as well as cutting crime and delivering an effective and efficient police service within their police force area.
Gedling borough voters will also have a chance to select the first East Midlands Mayor who will preside over how an annual budget of more than £38bn is spent across Notts and Derbyshire.
For more information about the East Midlands Combined County Authority elections, please click here.
When is election day?
Voters will go to the polls on Thursday, May 2 between 7am and 10pm.
The results will likely be tallied overnight and announced some time on Friday, May 3.
Voters will be asked to show photographic ID at polling stations, such as a passport, driving license, blue badge or an Older Person’s Bus Pass.
If you don’t have this, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate by Wednesday, April 24.
You can only vote if your name is on the Register of Electors. You may need to update this if you have never voted before, moved house or changed your name since the last election.
This can be done online before Tuesday, April 16.
How can I vote?
The most common way to vote is in person at your local polling station, however this isn’t possible for everyone due to health reasons, disabilities or other commitments.
You can apply for a postal vote online or by filling in an application form. You will need to do this before Wednesday, April 17 to ensure it is processed in time for the May elections.
You can also designate someone as a proxy to vote on your behalf.
Online applications will need to be made by Wednesday, April 24, and your proxy will still need to bring ID.
Will i need Voter ID?
Since May 2023, voters have had to show an accepted form of photo ID at polling stations to vote in person at most elections.
The rules apply to:
- all local elections in England, including those for mayors and the London Assembly
- all local referendums and parliamentary by-elections in England
- police and crime commissioner elections in England and Wales
- UK general elections
There is no need to show ID if voting:
- by post
- for the Scottish or Welsh Parliament
- in local elections in Scotland or Wales
Voters in Northern Ireland have had to show photo ID since 2003.
What documents can you use as photo ID?
There are 22 acceptable forms of ID, including:
- passports
- driving licences
- Older or Disabled Person’s bus passes
- Oyster 60+ cards
You can use out-of-date photo ID as long as you look the same.
What if I don’t have an acceptable form of ID?
You can exchange a paper driving licence for a photocard, or apply for a photocard travel pass if you’re aged 60 or over, disabled, or registered blind or partially sighted.
Anyone registered to vote without the correct ID – or who no longer looks like their photo – can apply for a free document known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
The deadline to apply before the May elections is Wednesday 24 April.
Total waste of time, rather try & platt fog