Local voters urged to check their ID
Local elections take place on Thursday 4 May and the council is urging people to check they have the photo ID people now need to take with them to vote.
These are the first elections to take place in Welwyn Hatfield since the government introduced a requirement for people to show photo ID when voting at a polling station.
To make sure you can vote on 4 May, the council is recommending that you take the following steps:
1. Check whether you already have the necessary photo ID. Information on the types of ID required can be found at bit.ly/WelhatVoterID. They include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK or EEA drivers’ licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.
2. If you do not have acceptable photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (i.e. the Voter ID). You must do this by 5pmTuesday 25 April 2023.
3. Take your photo ID or Voter Authority Certificate to the polling station on Thursday 4 May, as without it you will not be able to vote.
Ka Ng, the council’s Chief Executive and Returning Officer for the local elections, said:
“We expect a significant majority of people to already have the photo ID they need to vote in the upcoming elections. There will be some, however, who may need to apply for the free Voter ID. We are urging people of all ages to make sure they don’t miss out in these important local elections, and to check now that they have what they need to vote.”
Apply for your Voter ID (the Voter Authority Certificate) online. If you need any help with applying for or want to request a paper application form, contact the council’s Electoral Services team by email at elections@welhat.gov.uk or by telephone on 01707 357300.
You may not be voting in person, either because you are voting by post, or you are appointing someone you trust to vote in your place – known as a proxy vote. You do not need photo ID for a postal vote. For a proxy vote, only the person attending the polling station will need to show their ID.
To apply for a postal or proxy vote, download, print and complete the application form at GOV.UK, then send by email to elections@welhat.gov.uk or by post to Elections Team, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6AE.
The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 18 April, and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.