This page provides information about how to use your vote –
every vote matters
Register to vote
You must be on the electoral register if you wish to vote.
The deadline for registering to vote in the May 2023 elections is
11:59 on Monday 17th April 2023
Registering to vote is simple online via this link
You can download a paper form via this link
Voter ID
In 2023, the government are introducing Voter ID – the requirement that your identity can be verified using one of a number of documents – as a condition of voting elegibility.
In simple terms: the following forms of identification will be accepted…
If you don’t already have one of these documents….
Anyone who doesn’t currently have an accepted form of photo ID, or isn’t sure whether they still look like the photo on their ID, can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.
The deadline to apply for this is 5pm on Tuesday 25th April 2023
When you vote at a polling station
When you arrive at the polling station, a member of staff will:
1. Ask you for your name and address so they can find you on the electoral register
2. Ask for your photo ID, and check if it is acceptable
3. If your ID is acceptable, they will give you your ballot paper and direct you to complete it at a polling booth as usual
A private area will be available at the polling station, so you can choose to have your photo ID viewed in private if you like. This might be a separate room, or an area separated by a privacy screen, depending on the polling station.
Other ways of voting
You can also vote by post or by proxy – proxy means asking a trusted person to vote on your behalf.
- The deadline to apply to vote by post at the elections is 5pm on Tuesday 18 April 2023.
- The deadline to apply to vote by proxy at the elections is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April 2023.
