Voters urged to check they are ‘election ready’

People are being urged to act now to ensure they are ‘election ready’ and able to vote on 2 May.

People who are entitled to vote must be registered to do so. With only a few days to go until the voter registration deadline for the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner elections on 2 May, voters must make sure they are registered before the deadline of midnight on 16 April. 

Voters can apply to register to vote online. It takes just five minutes. 

Voters have a range of options – they can vote in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 17 April. The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is a week later, 5pm on 24 April. 

This 2 May, voters will need to show an accepted form of photo ID to vote at a polling station. This is a new requirement, introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act. Information about which ID you can use in the polling station can be found on the Electoral Commission website.

If you do not have one of the accepted types of ID, you can apply for free ID online or complete and submit a paper form to the council. You must apply by 5pm on 24 April, to be able to use the Voter Authority Certificate on 2 May. 

Rob Polkinghorne, Electoral Registration Officer for Cheshire East Council, said:

“Don’t lose your chance to have your say at elections in May. The police and crime commissioner elections are an opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly impact daily life in Cheshire East.

“If you’re in doubt about whether you need to register to vote, or have questions about how to apply for a postal or proxy vote, or free ID, you can contact our elections team on 0300 123 5016 or visit the Electoral Commission website.”

Craig Westwood, director of communications at the Electoral Commission, said:

“It is important that people check they’re election ready ahead of upcoming deadlines. All voters must be registered and some may need to apply for a postal or proxy vote or free ID. 

“Voters will need to show photo ID at polling stations this May. Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of photo ID can apply for free ID online or by completing a paper form and submitting it to their local council.”

Information about the new requirement and all your voting options can be found here: 

Electoral Commission website