People can register to vote online by 11.59pm on Monday 17 April at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote if they have their National Insurance number to hand – a process which should only take a few minutes. Paper forms can also be requested by calling the council on 01223 457048.
Voters are also being reminded to bring photo ID to vote in person at the local elections on 4 May, after new legislation was introduced by the government
To help spread the word, Cambridge City Council has sent two promotional bikes out on to the streets of Cambridge this week, bearing the message that people need to bring photo ID to polling stations this year in order to vote.
A variety of different photo ID can be used 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 acceptable ID should 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.
Robert Pollock, returning officer for the local elections in Cambridge, said: “The bikes will be out and about around the city for the next few days to remind people that they need to bring photo ID to vote in person at polling stations in the local elections on 4 May.
“The local elections are your chance to have a say in decisions that will directly affect you. If you have moved recently, are a student wishing to vote here, or if you aren’t yet registered, there’s still time to do so at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.”
If you are already registered to vote but are planning to be away from Cambridge on 4 May, you can apply to vote by post up until 5pm on Tuesday 18 April by visiting www.electoralcommission.org.uk. You don't need photo ID to vote by post, and your postal vote ballot paper will be sent to you before polling day.
If you would like to appoint someone else to vote on your behalf you can apply to vote by proxy up until 5pm on Tuesday 25 April by visiting www.electoralcommission.org.uk. Your proxy will need to go to your polling station on 4 May and have their own photo ID to vote on your behalf.
