Information for voters
Key events and deadlines
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Initial batch of poll cards sent | From 21 March |
| Deadline for receiving applications for registration - register to vote online | Friday 11 April |
| Deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes - apply for a postal vote online | Monday 14 April (5pm) |
| Deadline for receiving new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy or emergency proxies) - apply for a proxy vote online | Wednesday 23 April (5pm) |
| Deadline for receiving applications for Voter Authority Certificates - apply for a VAC online | Wednesday 23 April (5pm) |
| First date that electors can apply for a replacement for lost postal votes | Friday 25 April |
| Polling day | Thursday 1 May (7am to 10pm) |
Details of candidates
Details of candidates will be released following the Nomination deadline on Friday 4 April in the form of a statement of persons nominated. You will be able to find this on our election notices page.
Polling stations
Your polling station will be shown on your poll card. A list of polling stations will also be published on the election notices page no later than Wednesday 23 April.
Polling stations will be open on polling day between 07:00 and 22:00.
Registering to vote
To vote in this election you must be registered to vote. If you’re not already, the deadline for registering to vote is midnight on Friday 11 April.
To register go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Voter ID
To vote at a polling station you’ll need an accepted form of photo ID.
To see what ID is accepted – and to apply for free ID (known as a Voter Authority Certificate or VAC) visit the Electoral Commission's Voter ID page.
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Wednesday 23 April, but please apply as soon as you can.
Voters will need to show original documents at the polling station; copies or duplicates won’t be accepted.
Postal votes
The deadline for applying for a postal vote is 5pm on Monday 14 April.
To apply for a postal vote visit the Electoral Commission's postal vote application page.
New postal vote handling rules
New rules have been introduced around handling postal votes:
- there will be a limit on the number of postal votes a person can hand in at a polling station or at the council offices
- you will not be allowed to hand in more than five postal ballot packs for other electors plus your own (6 in total)
- if a person hands in more than five postal ballot packs for other electors, all the postal votes (other than their own) will be rejected
- anyone handing in postal votes will need to complete a ‘return of postal voting documents’ form
- we can no longer accept postal votes left in the letterbox at the council offices
- any postal votes which are left at any council building without the ‘return of postal voting documents’ form being completed will be rejected
- we recommend that postal votes are returned to us via Royal Mail as soon as possible before polling day
Proxy voting
You can have someone you trust vote on your behalf. The deadline for applying for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday 23 April.
To apply for a proxy vote visit the Electoral Commission's proxy vote application page.
More information
- How to vote
- Voter ID
- Information for disabled voters
- Find your polling station
- Frequently asked questions
If you would like more information about elections, or need any assistance please email electoral.services@gravesham.gov.uk.