Published Wednesday, 29th March 2023

With less than three weeks to go until the voter registration deadline for local elections in May, anyone wanting to vote must make sure they are election ready.

Important deadlines

The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 17 April. Voters can apply online at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. It takes just five minutes.

Voters have a range ways to cast their 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 Tuesday 18 April.

The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is a week later, 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.

Do you need to apply for photo ID?

This May, for the first time, voters will need to show photo ID to vote in person at a polling station. This is a new requirement, introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act.

To find out which ID you can use at the polling station, visit the Electoral Commission’s website at: electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.

If you do not have one of the accepted types of ID, you can apply for free ID at gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate or by requesting a paper form from our Elections team, completing and retuning it.

You must apply by 5pm on Tuesday 25 April, to be able to use the Voter Authority Certificate on 4 May.

You don’t need ID to vote by post.

What elections are happening

This year residents in Reigate & Banstead area will be voting to select:

  • Reigate & Banstead Borough Councillors who represent residents and their local area, and help shape the future of their local area by making plans and taking decisions on planning, parks, leisure and community facilities, recycling and waste collection, housing and environmental health.
  • Horley Town Council and Salfords and Sidlow Parish Councillors, who make decisions on local issues affecting their parish and act as ambassadors for their communities needs and concerns.

Dont lose your chance to vote

Mari Roberts-Wood, Electoral Registration Officer for Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, said: “Don’t lose your chance to have your say at elections on 4 May. Local elections are an important opportunity to have your say on who represents you and makes decisions about issues that directly affect day-to-day life where you live.

"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 find out more on the Electoral Commission’s website or contact our Elections helpline.”

Get election ready

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.

“At elections in May, for the first time, voters will need to show photo ID at polling stations. 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.”

More information

Information about the new requirement and all your voting options can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website at electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID or www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/voting-elections.

Residents who don’t have access to the internet can call us on 01737 276794.