With only one week to go until the voter registration deadline for local elections on 1 May, anyone wanting to vote must make sure they are registered to vote.
Rushcliffe Borough Council is reminding residents 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 the Nottinghamshire County Council Elections on Thursday May 1.
Research shows that young people, students and those who have recently moved are less likely to be registered than others. The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Friday 11 April. Voters can apply online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. It takes just five minutes.
Once registered, voters have a range of options – they can vote in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote.
Voters going to a polling station will need to show photo. Forms of acceptable photo ID which can be used to vote with include:
- Passport
- Driving licence (including provisional license)
- 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
To find more, visit the Electoral Commission website.
If individuals don’t have any accepted form of photo ID, they can apply for a free voter ID document known as a Voter Authority Certificate before 5pm on Wednesday April 23.
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.
If you need help applying for a free Voter Authority Certificate, then you can make an appointment by calling 0115 981 9911 to complete an application in person at our Customer Services Centre and contact points across the Borough:
- West Bridgford Library, Bridgford Road NG2 6AT on Mondays and Thursdays from 9am to 5pm and Fridays 9am to 4.30pm
- Cotgrave Hub, Rivermead NG12 3UQ on Mondays 8.30am to 5pm
- East Leake Library, Gotham Road LE12 6JG Wednesdays 8.30am to 12.30pm
- Bingham Medical Centre on Thursday 9am to 5pm.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Deputy Returning Officer for the elections Adam Hill said: “The Nottinghamshire County Council elections are fast approaching, and I urge everyone to ensure they are prepared by ensuring they are registered to vote and have a form of photo ID ready to bring with them if voting in person at a polling station on Thursday May 1.
“It’s essential that you bring photo ID with you otherwise, you won’t be able to vote.
“If anyone is concerned that they don’t have any voter ID, please get in touch with us and we can help you get a free Voter Authority Certificate.
“Don’t lose your chance to have your say at elections in May. Local elections are an important opportunity to have your say on who represents you and makes decisions about issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Nottinghamshire.
“If anyone has any other questions about registering to vote or the new photo ID requirement, they can email our electoral registration team at elections@rushcliffe.gov.uk or call 0115 981 9911.”
Director of Communications at the Electoral Commission Niki Nixon added: “It’s important that people check they’re ready to vote ahead of the upcoming local elections. All voters must be registered, and some may need to apply for a postal, proxy vote or free ID.
“If you’ve changed address or moved home since registering to vote at the general election last year, it takes just five minutes to update your details on the Government website.”
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