With borough, town and parish elections just 3 weeks away in Bracknell Forest, are you ready to vote?
There are a number of ways you can have your say on Thursday 4 May, but first of all you must be registered to vote. If you’re not registered, you have until 11:59pm on 17 April to register. You can register to vote on GOV.UK.
Once you are registered, you can vote:
- in person at your designated polling station on Thursday 4 May between 7am and 10pm
- by post – you must be registered to vote by post by 5pm on Tuesday 18 April
- by proxy, allowing someone else you trust to cast your vote for you at the polling station - you must apply for a proxy vote by 5pm on Tuesday 25 April
The elections on Thursday 4 May, will be the first in the borough requiring voters to show an accepted form of photo ID if they are voting in person. This is a national change to the voting system.
There are a wide number of accepted forms of photo ID, including passports, driving licences and bus passes. ID does not have to be in date but does have to look like you and does have to be in the name you are registered to vote under.
If you do not have any of these types of ID then you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate on GOV.UK. These must be applied for by 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.
If you are voting as someone’s proxy then you must bring your own photo ID - not the ID of the person you are voting on behalf of.
You do not need photo ID to vote by post.
Susan Halliwell, returning officer for Bracknell Forest and chief executive of Bracknell Forest Council, said:
“The local elections are just over 3 weeks away and there are some important deadlines approaching – so we’re asking people to check now to make sure they are ready to vote on 4 May. Are you registered to vote, do you want to vote by post or proxy and do you have appropriate photo ID if you want to vote in person?
“If you need any help with registering to vote or with voter ID please do ask our friendly electoral services team – they’ll be only too happy to advise you.”
You can contact the electoral services team by:
- email: voting@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
- phone: 01344 352000
