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Elections 2024 – here’s all the dates, deadlines and information you need to know

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Elections 2024

Elections will take place on Thursday, May 2 for Stroud District Council, parish and town councils, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and some neighbourhood planning referendums.

Registration

Stroud District Council wants residents to ensure they are registered to vote. In order to vote, please go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. You will need your national insurance number, registering only takes a few minutes. Alternatively, residents can register to vote by calling 01453 766321. The deadline is midnight, on Tuesday 16 April 2024.

Photo identification (ID)

The UK Government has introduced a requirement for registered electors to show photo ID when voting at a polling station. All electors will be required to present a government approved photo ID document at the polling station in order to be issued with a ballot paper. Residents are urged to make sure they are ready to vote by checking they have an accepted form of ID.

The most common forms of photo ID are permitted e.g., photo driving licence, passport, and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo. Only original documents are accepted. Further details and a full list of acceptable forms of ID are included on the Council's website at www.stroud.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections/voter-id.

If you do not have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply free-of-charge for a Voter Authority Certificate. To apply, visit www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate or book an appointment to have a photo taken and complete an application at the district council offices by calling 01453 766321. The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024.

Applications to vote by post online

You can now apply to vote by post online and will need to provide your National Insurance Number to verify your identity.

Apply for a postal vote at https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote. Postal vote application forms are available to download at www.stroud.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections/voting-options/postal-voting or can be obtained by emailing elections@stroud.gov.uk or calling 01453 766321.

The deadline for postal vote applications is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024

Proxy votes

To apply for a proxy vote either:

  • Apply at gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote (you will need your national insurance number)
  • Download an application form and either post or email to Stroud District Council
  • Call 01453 766321 or email elections@stroud.gov.uk.

Your proxy will need to vote on your behalf at your polling station and present their photo ID. The deadline for proxy vote applications is 5pm, Wednesday 24 April 2024.

For more details, and information on emergency proxy votes: www.stroud.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections/local-government-and-police-and-crime-commissioner-elections-thursday-2-may-2024

Kathy O'Leary, Returning Officer for Stroud District Council, said: “With 6 weeks until polling day, make sure you're ready for the elections on Thursday, May 2. Check that you've got an accepted form of photo ID and remember to bring it with you to the polling station on polling day.

“I would encourage all district residents to ensure they are registered to vote and that they have appropriate photo ID to be able to cast their vote.”

If you are standing for election

The Notice of Election for district and parish councils was published on Monday, March 18, 2024 and the period for potential candidates to submit their nomination papers for all 51 district council seats and for all parish and town councils opened at 10am on Tuesday, March 19. Nominations for these close at 4pm on Friday, April 5. Nomination papers must be hand delivered to the council offices at Ebley Mill on working days between 10am – 4pm. All candidates standing for election will published after 4pm on Friday 5 April.

How to vote

There are three ways of voting:

  • In person - between 7am – 10pm on Thursday May 2 at your local polling station (electors will be required to bring photo ID to vote). Poll cards will be issued around 28 March 2024 to any elector who is registered to vote in this election.
  • By post – to vote by post, you will need to complete an application form and send it to the Electoral Registration Officer to arrive by 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024. Existing postal voters will receive a poll card confirming this and should receive their postal votes approximately 15 days before polling day.
  • By proxy – to vote by proxy (elector appoints someone they trust to vote on their behalf at the polling station), you will need to complete an application form and send it to the Electoral Registration Officer to arrive by 5pm, on Wednesday 24 April 2024. Existing proxy voters will receive a poll card confirming this. Proxy voters will be required to bring photo ID to the polling station to vote.

Postal and proxy vote application forms are available from Stroud District Council’s website or you can email elections@stroud.gov.uk or phone 01453 766321 to request an application form.

Counts

Counts take place on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 and you can keep up-to-date with results at www.stroud.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections/election-results and the council’s social media channels. 

A full election timetable can be seen at www.stroud.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections/local-government-and-police-and-crime-commissioner-elections-thursday-2-may-2024/elections-timetable

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