Andy Munns
People have until tomorrow to register to vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner Election on Thursday 2nd May if they’re not already registered.
To vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner election, people must be registered by midnight on Tuesday 16 April 2024. If not already registered, people can apply at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
Voters only need to register once, unless they have changed their name, address or nationality.
If electors are away on polling day, they now have the option to apply conveniently online for a postal or proxy vote. Proxy voters are restricted to acting on behalf of two people, regardless of their relationship.
Postal vote packs for electors applying between now and the postal vote deadline will start to be sent out later this week. Postal votes should be returned via Royal Mail. There is now a limit on the number of postal vote packs that can be hand delivered (e.g. to a polling station) – an elector can only submit their own and up to five others, and they will be required to fill in an additional form.
To apply for a postal vote, people should visit www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on 17th April 2024.
To apply for a proxy vote, people should visit www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote. The deadline is 5 p.m. on 24th April 2024.
Anyone applying for a postal or proxy vote online will need their national insurance number or an identity document such as a driving license or passport as part of the application process.
Poll cards for the election have been landing on doormats for the last couple of weeks and people are advised to read them as it contains details on local polling stations and important information about voter ID. Photographic identification is now a mandatory requirement for everyone voting in polling stations.
Accepted forms of photo ID include passports, photographic driving licences, biometric immigration documents, and certain concessionary travel passes. A comprehensive list can be found at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id.
Those without an accepted form of photo ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate online at https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate. Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024. The Voter Authority Certificate can be used at all elections and people are advised to apply as early as possible.
Terence Herbert, Returning Officer for Wiltshire, said: “Registering to vote is a simple process that will take around five minutes, and I’d encourage all eligible voters to do it if they haven’t already. With the PCC election just a matter of weeks away, and a General Election on the horizon, there’s no better time to ensure you can exercise your democratic right and have your say on those who impact your day-to-day lives.
“People should now be receiving their poll cards, which contain useful information on the local polling station and Voter ID, so I’d recommend reading it so you’re all ready for polling day. Our staff have been working hard preparing and are looking forward to welcoming people to the polling stations on 2nd May.”
To summarise, they key dates are:
- Deadline for registering to vote – midnight on 16 April 2024
- Deadline for applying for a postal vote – 5pm on 17 April 2024
- Deadline for applying for a proxy vote – 5pm on 24 April 2024
- Deadline to apply for a free voter authority certificate (if you have no voter ID) – 5pm on 24 April 2024
- Polling Day is Thursday 2 May 2024 – polling opens at 7am and closes at 10pm
- Declaration of result – 4 May 2024
Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner oversees the work of Wiltshire Police. Electors wishing to view the candidates’ statements to the public can do so online at https://choosemypcc.org.uk/area/wiltshire.
If people are unsure where their local polling station is, they can visit https://wheredoivote.co.uk/, enter their postcode, or check their poll card.
Anyone who can’t go online to complete a form can call Wiltshire Council’s Elections Team on 0300 456 01 12 or email elections@wiltshire.gov.uk and ask to be posted a paper form.
People are asked to request their forms to be posted well before the deadline.
More information can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/elections-pcc.
