Elections Blogs 2: Voter ID, Postal, Proxy and absent Votes

Returning Officer Georgina Blakemore outlines changes to voting in this year’s elections.

Hello,

Local district council and Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner elections take place across Epping Forest District on 2 May. Some areas will also have town or parish council elections. In this blog, I want to tell you about some important changes to elections law. The changes are intended to make your vote more secure, protecting you from impersonation or voter fraud. They were made by Parliament and cover elections across the UK.

Introduction of Voter ID

The way votes are cast in the UK has been tightened up after allegations of impersonation and electoral fraud in other regions. The changes were introduced in time for the local elections last year, but only a third of Epping Forest District Council seats were up for election. This year every district council seat is up for election. For most voters it will therefore be their first experience of needing photo ID.

In the vast majority of cases, the process is really simple. Among the most common examples of acceptable photo ID are your passport, photo driving licence, bus pass and blue badge. In fact, there are over 20 different forms of acceptable ID, and they don’t even have to be in date. So long as an expired document shows a true likeness, it should be accepted. See the Electoral Commission website for the full list.

However, even with so many possibilities, we know some people won’t have a suitable photo ID.

The right to vote is sacrosanct. If you don’t have any ID, you should apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. The application form is online, and you will need to submit a photograph, but the service is free and your right to vote will be guaranteed. The deadline for receiving applications for Voter Authority Certificates before the elections on 2 May is Wednesday 24 April 2024.

Don’t worry if you don’t like computers. Members of our customer service team at the Civic Offices in Epping are there to help. We will take your photo and walk through each step of the application process with you.

The most important thing is not to leave your VAC application too late. Applications are handled centrally by the GOV.UK website, and it will take several days to deliver your VAC, so don’t leave it until the last moment or you could miss out.

A reminder will be printed on your polling card. Unless you bring photo ID or a VAC to the polling station, you will be turned away. I am sorry but we can’t make exceptions. Be kind to the polling staff. It’s the law. Most are volunteers, and they have to follow the regulations.

Postal Votes

Whatever your reason for voting by post, the process is easy.

Postal votes are an increasingly popular way of voting across the UK. Approximately one in ten Epping Forest residents are registered for postal voting. For many it’s a hassle-free alternative, whether you are away on polling day, a student at college or university, or simply want to dodge the fickle British weather.

You can register or make changes to an existing registration online. Apply before 5 pm Wednesday 24 April if you want to vote on Thursday 2 May.

If you have voted by post before, you may notice some subtle changes compared to previous years. Concerns about voter fraud that led to the introduction of Voter ID, have also led to changes in the postal voting system. The new rules also affect political parties. There is much more information. All you need to know including links to GOV.UK is on the Council website.