Voters Urged to Check they are Election Ready

RESIDENTS have less than three weeks left to register to vote in May’s local elections in Reading.

Midnight on Monday April 17^th is the deadline for people to ensure they are registered. Voters can apply online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote It takes just five minutes.

There is now just over one month to go until the local elections in Reading. Polling day is Thursday May 4. There will be one candidate to elect across all 16 wards in Reading this year, as well as a by-election in Park ward where electors will be able to vote for no more than two candidates.

National changes mean that for the first time ever, voters who choose to vote in person at a polling station will need to show photo ID. Find out which ID can be used at the Electoral Commission website. Where a voter turns up at a polling station without ID, they will be asked to return home to find ID before they can be issued with a ballot paper. A poll card alone will not entitle someone to vote.

Residents who do not have an accepted form of ID can apply online for a free Voter Authority Certificate – known as a VAC - at https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate Alternatively, they can complete a paper application form and return this to Reading’s Electoral Services team.

If residents need any help with applying for a VAC, or want to request a paper application form, they can contact the Council’s Electoral Services team at elections@reading.gov.uk or call 0118 937 3717. The deadline for applying for a VAC is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.

On polling day itself, staff will be on hand across Reading to assist voters with any questions about filling out their ballot paper. There will also be a number of aids available to help people cast their vote, including large print sample ballot papers and tactile voting devices to help those with a visual impairment.

Voting in person at a polling station is just one of a number of options for residents however. They can also vote by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 18 April. The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is a week later, 5pm on 25 April. Find out more on both of these options at https://www.reading.gov.uk/the-council-and-democracy/elections-and-voting/local-borough-elections-2023/

Residents are also being advised that the process of dispatching polling cards also begins this week. Residents should take a minute to check their card carefully when it arrives to ensure their details and voting method is correct.

Michael Graham, Electoral Registration Officer for Reading Borough Council, said:

“Don’t lose your chance to have your say at elections in May. Local elections are an important opportunity to have your say on who represents you and makes decisions about issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Reading. If you’re in doubt about whether you need to register to vote, or have questions about how to apply for a postal or proxy vote, or free ID, you can contact Reading Borough Council on 0118 937 3717 or Elections@reading.gov.uk”.

Residents can visit the FAQ page on the website at Local borough elections and casual vacancy 2023 - Reading Borough Council to find out more about the elections on 4 May 2023. The page will be updated with new information as it becomes available. Residents with questions can also contact their local elections team at Elections@reading.gov.uk