Notices of election for by elections next month for vacancies on three Town Councils in Somerset have been published.
The by elections are scheduled for:
- 14 December for Abbey Manor South Ward – Yeovil Town Council
- 18 December for the Fairfax East Ward – Bridgwater Town Council, and the Highbridge Ward – Burnham and Highbridge Town Council.
Residents in the electoral areas must be registered if they want to vote. It’s a quick and easy online process via Register to vote – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
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 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.
Yeovil by election – voter registration deadline is midnight, 28 November. The deadline for Voter ID applications for the Yeovil by election is 5pm on 6 December.
Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes and amendments or cancellations of proxy votes must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Somerset Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil, BA20 2HT by 5pm on Wednesday 29 November 2023.
Bridgwater and Highbridge by elections – voter registration deadline is midnight, 30 November 2023 The deadline for Voter ID applications for the Bridgwater and Highbridge by elections is by elections is 5pm on 8 December.
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.
Details on all three by elections are available by visiting Electoral Services (somerset.gov.uk) – for Highbridge and Bridgwater, click the Sedgemoor link; for Yeovil Abbey Manor, click the South Somerset link.
