Register to vote in time for May’s local elections
News release issued:
On Thursday 2 May residents in Wyre Forest will go to the polls to have their say in elections for the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia and Kidderminster Town Council.
Anyone who has not already registered to vote must do so by midnight on Tuesday 16 April. It is quick and easy to do online by visiting the Gov.uk website .
Voters can also vote by post or proxy. Anyone can apply for a postal vote which allows voters much greater flexibility about when they complete their ballot paper.
Anyone not already registered for a postal or proxy vote will need to complete an application form. You can now do this online or download a form. All the details are available on the council’s website.. The deadline for new postal voting requests is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April. For proxy votes it is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.
The polling stations for the election will be open between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 2 May. All registered electors will be sent a polling card which will tell them where they can cast their vote. Anyone voting at a polling station will need photo ID. Details of acceptable forms of ID are available on the council's voter id webpage. Anyone who does not have the correct ID can apply for a voter authority certificate . The deadline for this is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April. Certificates issued for use in the 2023 elections are valid for 10 years unless you no longer look like the photo or your name is different.
From this election voters will be only able to hand in their own postal vote, and the postal votes of up to five other people, at a polling station. Campaigners can only hand in their own postal vote, and postal votes for up to five other people that are either close relatives, or someone they provide regular care for. If you hand in postal votes, you will be required to complete a postal vote declaration form. This will include giving your name and address and signing to confirm that you have not breached the legal limits and other requirements.
Ian Miller, Electoral Registration Officer, said:
“If you have turned 18, or if you have moved home recently, it’s particularly important that you act to make sure that you are registered. It takes just five minutes online and means that you can take part in May’s elections. We are also encouraging anyone who votes by post to send their completed ballot papers back as soon as possible. By posting them in a red Royal Mail post box there is no need to sign a declaration form as you would have to do at a polling station.”