People in County Durham are being reminded that they must be registered to vote if they wish to have their say in the forthcoming UK Parliamentary General Election.
The election takes place on Thursday 4th July and poll cards will be delivered to residents from Friday 7th June.
Anyone currently registered on the electoral register and eligible to vote in this election will receive a poll card providing details of their voting preference, either voting at an allocated polling station or voting by post or proxy.
Anyone who is not registered or has recently moved house and has not informed electoral services is encouraged to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote by midnight on Tuesday 18th June.
Anyone who wishes to vote at these elections must be registered to vote in County Durham and must also show an acceptable form of photo ID which include passports, driving licences and concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass. Voters will also be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photograph. Polling cards will contain a full list of accepted voter ID and full details are also available at www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/photo-id-youll-need.
Voters who do not have an accepted form of photo ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate. Residents who need any help applying for a Voter Authority Certificate or who would prefer a paper application form should contact Durham County Council’s electoral services team on 03000 261212 or email electoralservices@durham.gov.uk.
All applications for a free Voter Authority Certificate for this election must be received by 5pm on Wednesday, 26th June.
Anyone who is listed on the electoral register can request a postal or proxy vote. The new government online portal is the simplest way in which to complete a postal or proxy vote application. Residents will need to provide their national insurance number and upload a sample of their signature when making their application. This information will be used by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to help confirm their identity.
Postal vote applications can be made online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote and proxy vote applications can be made online at www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.
To request a paper copy of either application form, contact the council’s electoral services team on 03000 261212 or email electoralservices@durham.gov.uk.
For these elections the deadline for postal vote applications is 5pm on Wednesday 19th June and for proxy vote applications is 5pm on Wednesday 26th June.
Anyone who needs any further assistance can contact the council’s electoral services team on 03000 261212 or email electoralservices@durham.gov.uk