CAMBRIDGE voters are being reminded of the need to bring photo ID to the polling station to be able to vote in person in local elections on 4 May, after new legislation was introduced by the government.

The elections on Thursday 4 May this year will see city councillors elected in each ward, plus an expected by-election in Castle ward following a resignation. A further by-election is expected for the Cambridgeshire County Council division of Arbury following a resignation.

Voters can take a variety of different photo ID in order to vote, including passport, driver’s licence, blue badge, older or disabled person’s bus pass, Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) card and many more. For the complete list of acceptable forms of ID visit www.cambridge.gov.uk/voter-id-in-polling-stations

Anyone without an otherwise acceptable form of ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate either online (at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate)  or by post. This is a free photo ID document issued for the specific purpose of voting at a polling station.

The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for the elections on 4 May is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.

People will not require photo ID to vote by post or if they have appointed a proxy to vote for them, although the proxy will need to bring their own photo ID.

Residents who have not yet registered to vote in the local elections on 4 May are urged to do so before this year’s deadline if they are not already registered.

Anyone wishing to vote in the elections on 4 May who is not already registered to vote can still register to vote online up until 11.59pm on Monday 17 April.

To register, people need to visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and have their National Insurance number to hand. The process should only take a few minutes.

Residents already on the electoral register do not need to take any action, and should receive a poll card at the end of March.

Residents aged 18 or over on polling day can vote in these elections if they are a British, Irish, qualifying Commonwealth or European Union citizen, and have registered to vote in Cambridge. EU citizens can still register and vote even though the UK has left the EU.

Robert Pollock, Returning Officer for the local elections, said: “I would urge anyone who has not registered to vote to make it a priority to do so. Your views matter and can positively influence your neighbourhood, local community, and the whole city. It is very simple to register. Just go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote to play a part in local democracy this year. 

“Please remember to tell your friends and family that for the first time you will need to bring photo ID to polling stations on 4 May. Many people already have a driver’s licence, passport, blue badge, or another acceptable form of ID.  If you don’t, please apply for the Voter Authority Certificate. It’s easy to get and you can use it to vote again in future.”

People wishing to vote by post can apply to do so up until 5pm on Tuesday 18 April.

People can appoint someone else to vote on their behalf by applying to vote by proxy up until 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.