Voters in Bridgwater, Fairfax East Ward and Burnham, Highbridge Ward are being urged to make sure they can vote in forthcoming local town council by-elections by making sure they are registered. It’s a quick and easy online process via Register to vote – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
They have until midnight tomorrow (Thursday 30 November) to register to vote for their preferred candidate in the Highbridge Ward – Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, and for the Fairfax East Ward – Bridgwater Town Council. Both by-elections are scheduled to take place on 18 December.
Time is also fast running out for electors who want to vote by post. Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes and amendments or cancellations of proxy votes must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Somerset Council Offices, Bridgwater House, King Square, Bridgwater, TA6 3AR by 5pm on Friday 1 December 2023.
A new digital service has been launched to allow electors to apply online via GOV. UK for a postal or proxy vote. Paper applications will still be available, giving electors a choice of application routes.
Eligible voters planning to vote in person at their local polling station must provide acceptable ID. Those without an accepted type of ID can apply online for a Voter Authority Certificate, at https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate or by applying for and submitting a paper form to Somerset Council’s electoral services. Applicants must be registered to vote and will need to provide their date of birth, National Insurance number and a passport type photograph.
Those that have an accepted form of ID already do not need to apply. Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK or EEA 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 deadline for Voter ID applications for the Bridgwater and Highbridge by-elections is by elections is 5pm on 8 December.
Details on all the by- elections are available by visiting Electoral Services (somerset.gov.uk) – for Highbridge and Bridgwater, click the Sedgemoor link.
