Published Thursday, 21st March 2024
Earlier this week Simon Hoare MP, Minister for Local Government, met council staff to see how they have implemented changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022.
Managing Director at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, Mari Roberts-Wood, and Minister for Local Government, Simon Hoare MP, outside the Town Hall in Reigate on 18 March 2024 when the Notice of Election was formally published and displayed on the Notice board, marking the start of the pre-election period. The local elections and the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner elections take place on 2 May 2024.
Changes to the way we vote
The Elections Act introduced a number of changes that affect elections and the way we vote. These changes include a requirement to show photo identification at polling stations, changes to postal and proxy voting, improving the accessibility of elections and introducing digital imprints for online campaigning material.
The Minister’s visit coincided with the formal publishing of the Notice of Election for Reigate & Banstead, marking the start of the pre-election period. During the visit, Minister Hoare saw the council’s e electoral services staff process applications using the ERO Portal, a new online system available to electoral services teams which, amongst other functions, is able to check and verify an applicant’s identity for overseas applicants registering to vote, for postal and proxy vote applications, and for Voter Authority Certificate or Anonymous Elector’s Document applications.
The Minister also met with Managing Director at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, Mari Roberts-Wood, to hear more details on the Council’s preparations for the local election and the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner elections taking place on 2 May 2024.
Minister for Local Government, Simon Hoare MP, said: “It’s been very rewarding to spend time with staff from Reigate & Banstead Borough Council today, and witness first-hand how they are successfully implementing the required changes. I am grateful for all the hard work put in by local authority teams such as this one, across the country, to deliver the changes from the Act whilst continuing to deliver our elections robustly and securely.
Delighted
Mari Roberts-Wood, Managing Director at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, said: “The Minister’s visit was testament to our Elections team who’ve been working very hard over many months to prepare for the upcoming elections. We were delighted to have this unique opportunity to showcase their great work.”For more information on the local elections and the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner elections, both taking place on 2 May, please read our news release from 13 March: It’s almost time to elect Surrey’s next Police and Crime Commissioner