Residents in Cardiff will need to show photographic ID to vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner election on May 2.
Residents are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote by checking they have an accepted form of ID, which includes a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport or drivers' licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person's bus pass. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo. The full list of accepted ID is here: https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Your-Council/Voting-and-elections/Elections-Act-2022/Pages/default.aspx
Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID will be able to apply for free ID online at www.voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk/ or by completing a paper form. The deadline to apply is April 24.
Paul Orders, Returning Officer at Cardiff Council, said: "Withelections taking place in Cardiff on May 2, it is important that those who want to vote in a polling station make sure they have an accepted form of ID, and if they don't, they should apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. Anyone needing help with applying for the free ID or who wants to request an application form, can emailelectoralservices@cardiff.gov.uk
"Details on a voter's photo ID must be the same as the information we hold for them on the electoral register, so if anyone has changed their name, or moved house recently, we encourage them to update their details on the register before the deadline on April 16 to ensure they can cast their vote in a polling station on May 2."
To apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC), residents must first be registered to vote. Registering is quick and easy and can be done here www.gov.uk/registertovote The deadline to register to vote in the PCC election is midnight on April 16.
Voters who would like to vote by post for the May election must apply by 5pm on April 17. Anyone who wants to vote by proxy must apply by 5pm on April 24.
As well as making sure they have accepted photo ID or a VAC, and remembering to take it to the polling station on polling day, voters in Cardiff are reminded to check their polling station details as a small number of locations have changed since the last election, following a recent review. Residents can also check their polling station here:
The Council has been working hard to make sure voting and elections are accessible to all citizens who are eligible to vote in the city, and this includes supporting voters with learning disabilities and autism to engage with the democratic process. A short video has been produced to help voters who may need support to become familiar with what happens in a polling station. Watch here: https://youtu.be/Git6Cl36Ohg
On polling day,a range of devices will be available in polling stations to assist voters who need some support. These include tactile voting devices, large magnifiers, large ballot paper examples, seating, pencil grips, thick triangular pencils, hearing induction loops, additional lighting, How to Vote in easy read formatand polling station information cards.
The polling station information cards are for voters who may prefer to write about any support they may need in the polling station, rather than speaking to a member of staff. The cards will also be available at Accessible Voting in Cardiff for voters to download and complete ahead of their visit to the polling station if they prefer. These can then be handed to staff on the day.