Local elections are coming to Coventry in May and there are new requirements for those wishing to vote in-person in a polling station on election day.
Below are some key tips on:
- Registering to Vote
- Alternatives to voting in-person on election day at a Polling Station, and
- New rules around voter ID requirements for in-person voting.
If you want to know more about any of these topics visit either:
- Coventry City Council’s website at https://www.coventry.gov.uk/elections , and/or
- the Electoral Commission at https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/ .
Registering to Vote
To register to vote online go to https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote ; you will need your National Insurance number.
If you can’t register online, you can download a paper form from https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/register-to-vote-paper-forms .
You don’t need to register to vote before every election.
If you move house, you should register to vote again. If you change your name for any reason, you can either contact the electoral services team at your local council, and request a change of name form, or register to vote again.
For more information on updating your details go to: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/register-vote-and-update-your-details .
Alternatives to In-person Voting
Voting by post
If you know that you won’t be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can vote by post.
You can apply for postal vote because you’re away on holiday or because your work schedule means you can’t get to polling station. You can also choose to vote by post simply because it would be more convenient for you.
You will be a sent a postal vote ballot pack before the election. Find out more about how to vote by post from https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/how-vote-post .
Asking a trusted person to vote on your behalf
If you know that you won’t be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote for you. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is often referred to as your proxy.
If you nominate a proxy, the person you choose to vote on your behalf will need to show their own photo ID to cast your vote. They will not need to show your ID.
The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote, or can apply to vote for you by post.
To find out more about proxy voting go to: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/apply-vote-proxy .
New Rules around Voter Identification requirements of in-person voting
From 4 May 2023, voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections.
This will apply to:
- Local elections
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections
- UK parliamentary by-elections
- Recall petitions.
From October 2023 it will also apply to UK General elections.
If you don’t have accepted photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
Find out more about accepted forms of photo ID, how to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate, and what to expect on polling day from: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id .
No matter how you vote Citizens Advice believes it is important, in order to hold elected representatives to account and/or to vote to get the elected representatives you want, to vote.
In a representative democracy, voting matters.
Ends.
