Key details and dates ahead of Leeds City Council and Mayor of West Yorkshire elections taking place on Thursday 2 May
Leeds City Council has issued important information and reminders for all voters to be aware of ahead of this year’s local and regional elections in May.
Voting for seats on Leeds City Council and for the regional Mayor of West Yorkshire takes place on Thursday 2 May. Voters are advised that for those wishing to vote in these elections in person at a polling station on election day will need to show a valid form of Voter ID, as the system introduced at last year’s local elections continues.
Guidance on what forms of identification will be accepted and how to apply for a new free Voter ID can be seen at Voter photo ID (leeds.gov.uk). As with last year, all community hubs and libraries in Leeds will be able to help voters complete the application form including having a photo taken. The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (free voter ID) is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.
The need to show Voter ID only applies to those who wish to vote in person at a polling station or through a proxy in person, it does not affect those who vote by post.
The first step in the voting process is being registered to vote. The deadline to do so is midnight on Tuesday 16 April. This includes anyone who has moved home and needs to register at their new address. Registration takes just five minutes and can be completed online at Register to vote – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The next step is choosing which method to use to vote, either in person, by post, or by appointing someone trusted to vote on your behalf, which is known as a proxy vote.
To vote in person, an accepted form of Voter ID will be needed and shown at the polling station.
Poll cards for everyone currently registered to vote in Leeds will be posted. Residents are being asked to check the details on their poll cards when they arrive to ensure they are correct, and also to note the location of their polling station which may have changed.
Postal poll cards will also be sent to anyone currently registered to vote by post, followed by postal ballot packs which will be issued from around 18 April. Anyone wishing to vote this way can apply to do so via www.leeds.gov.uk/your-council/elections/postal-voting. The deadline for applications for postal voting is 5pm on Tuesday 18 April, and the next reminder is for postal voters to send their completed postal vote back as early as possible to help manage demand.
Another option available is to vote by proxy, which can be applied for via www.leeds.gov.uk/elections. The deadline for applications to vote by proxy is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April.
All voters are advised to read the information sent through to them carefully when it arrives, as there are numerous changes being introduced at these elections which are explained in full, especially for anyone looking to hand in completed votes on behalf of other people.
Elections Returning Officer and chief executive of Leeds City Council Tom Riordan said:
“As we get ready to head into another pre-election period, it is important everyone who wishes to vote is registered to do and has chosen their method of voting. There are some important changes this year voters will need to read the guidance when it arrives to be fully aware of, and also we wish to remind everyone wanting to vote in person on election day they will need to have an accepted form of ID with them to show at the polling station or they will be turned away.
“We encourage everyone who can vote to exercise their democratic right to do so and have their say.”
For more information on the changes in place for this year’s elections visit the Electoral Commission’s website at
www.electoralcommission.org.uk.
