General Election 4th July 2024 (4) Voter Deadlines
Responsible Officer:
Karen M Donnelly, Chief Solicitor & Monitoring Officer
Publication:
This Technical Note will be published on the Council’s website following circulation to Members. Its contents may be disclosed or shared outwith the Council.
Section
This is the latest in a series of Technical Notes to update Members on the ongoing planning and arrangements for the upcoming UK Parliamentary election.
Members will be aware that the Prime Minister has intimated his intention to dissolve Parliament in advance of a General Election on 4th July 2024.
The timelines for the Election are very tight and there are several deadlines which will apply to various voters. In addition to administering the electoral event itself, the Returning Officer has a responsibility to encourage participation in the election and ensure voters are aware of all relevant deadlines and processes.
Members will be aware that this election sees the introduction of Voter ID and changes to arrangements for postal Votes. Anyone wishing to vote in this election must present valid photo ID. Only certain categories of photo ID will be accepted. Details of acceptable forms of photo ID can be found by visiting the Council’s UK Parliamentary General Election 2024 webpage.
In addition to Voter ID, there are fundamental changes affecting the handling and submission of Postal Votes which apply to this election.
Officers have been raising awareness of Voter ID and the changes to Postal Votes for some time. Information has been posted on the Council’s website and promoted via its social media channels. A briefing session for Members was held on 11th March 2024 and there has been engagement with communities. Posters highlighting the need for voters to have appropriate ID and changes to Postal Votes have been put up in Council buildings and those of partners, schools, libraries, sports centres, GP surgeries and other public buildings. A leaflet has been produced and issued to Members, buildings where there is public access, certain Council services e.g. Care at Home and other partners.
The next phase of this awareness raising is the use of the Council’s fleet to remind voters of the need to show photo ID at the polling place. The other side of the relevant vehicles includes information about Postal Votes. The image below shows the decals in place.
Given the dissolution of Parliament today, it is now possible to set out key dates that will be important to voters. These are detailed below:
Anyone not registered to vote must do so before Tuesday 18 June.
Anyone unable to vote in person can apply for a postal vote. The deadline to apply is 5pm on Wednesday 19 June.
Anyone unable to vote in person, who would rather vote by proxy, must apply by 5pm on Wednesday 19 June.
Anyone without valid/acceptable photo ID must apply for a Voter Authority Certificate by 5pm on Wednesday 26th June.
If any Member has any questions regarding the election, or requires a further supply of the Voter ID leaflets, please contact Karen Donnelly in the first instance.
