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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he expects to call a general election in ‘the second half’ of 2024.
While we don’t know the exact date, if you need to register to vote, want to set up a postal or a proxy vote or apply for a voter authority certificate, please do this sooner rather than later.
Applying now will ensure applications are processed early and arrangements are in place ready for when an election is called.
Remember, if you plan to visit the polling station in person, you’ll need to show a valid form of photographic ID before you’ll be given a ballot paper.
If you haven’t got valid photo ID, apply for a free voter authority certificate by post or appoint someone you trust to vote on your behalf (known as a proxy vote).
Changes to absent voting
Changes have been made to the process of applying for a postal or proxy vote following the Elections Act 2022.
Absent voting benefits people who would otherwise struggle to get to their local polling station on election day.
You can now apply to vote by post online and apply online for some types of proxy vote.
The new rules also mean an identity verification step is now required and if you are applying online, you’ll need to upload a clear photograph of your signature.
If you, or someone you know, can’t apply online, call our elections team on 01934 634 909 for a postal vote form to be sent out.
Electors sometimes return their completed postal vote forms, and those for friends and family, into the Town Hall in Weston-super-Mare or a polling station by hand.
However, there is now a limit on how many postal votes a person can take in. You won’t be allowed to hand in more than five ballot packs for other electors, plus your own.
A ‘return of postal voting documents’ form also needs to be filled in, asking for your name, address and reason for handing in someone else’s postal votes.
If this form is not completed with all the required information, the postal vote(s) must be rejected by law.
Therefore, we strongly advise that all postal votes are returned to us via Royal Mail.
Also, you can now only be a proxy for up to two people in the UK, regardless of your relationship.
Overseas voting rights
Rules have also changed on overseas residents being eligible to vote in a parliamentary election.
Previously, British citizens living abroad had to have been registered in the UK within the last 15 years but this restriction has now been removed.
From Tuesday (16 January), any British citizen living abroad can register to vote, regardless of how long they’ve been out of the country.
So, if you have friends or family living overseas, let them know they can apply online and vote in the next general election.
Help choose the next police and crime commissioner
Polling stations open on Thursday 2 May for people in North Somerset to have their say on who will be the new police and crime commissioner for the Avon and Somerset area (PCC).
PCCs are elected in areas of England and Wales to make sure local police meet the needs of the community.
They are responsible for how our area is policed, the police budget, the amount of council tax charged for the police, the information you get about what the local police are doing, and appointing and dismissing the chief constable (the most senior police officer for the area).
To vote in this upcoming election you must:
- be registered to vote
- be 18 or over on the day of the election
- be a British, Irish, Commonwealth or EU citizen
- be registered at an address in the area you want to vote in
- not legally be excluded from voting.
Could you help make elections happen?
Work at your local polling station be a part of the action on election day.
We’re looking for staff to help us run future elections, including the Police and Crime Commissioner election in May and the general election at some point this year.
Different roles are available, from working at a polling station to helping with the verification and count.
Visit our website to find out more.