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Get election ready – check your voter registration and ID before it’s too late

People across South Oxfordshire are being urged to check that they are ready for the upcoming elections.

On Thursday 4 May, residents will go to the polls to choose local councillors who will make decisions on important issues, such as where we should focus our efforts locally to help tackle climate change, where and how new housing gets built, how we work to ensure there’s enough affordable housing and much more. 

As we get closer to polling day, there are four key things people need to know:

  • Everyone aged 18 or over who is eligible can vote in the local elections, but you must be registered at your current address by midnight on 17 April – if you need to register, apply now at gov.uk/registertovote.
  • If you intend to vote at a polling station on 4 May, you must bring valid photo ID with you. This is a new requirement, introduced by the UK Government which will be in force for the local elections. To find out which ID you can use, visit electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.
  • If you don’t have the accepted photo ID, you need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate which is free of charge – visit electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.  Please note – if you need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, you must do so by 5pm on 25 April.
  • If you can’t make it to the polling station on 4 May – you can apply to vote by post – the deadline for postal vote applications is 5pm on 18 April, or you can apply to allow someone else to vote on your behalf, this is known as a proxy vote. The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on 25 April.  To find out how to apply for a postal or proxy vote, visit southoxon.gov.uk/localelections2023

For more information about the 2023 local elections, visit southoxon.gov.uk/localelections2023

Mark Stone, Electoral Registration Officer at South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, said: “This is your chance to help to decide who represents you and makes decisions about local issues that affect you directly. 

“We don’t want anyone to miss out, so please check now to make sure you are registered to vote at your current address and that you have the photo ID you need if you intend to vote at a polling station on 4 May.”

Notes to editors

  • To apply for the Voter Authority Certificate, voters will need to provide a photo, full name, date of birth, the address at which they are registered to vote and their National Insurance number. The deadline to apply is 5pm on 25 April.
  • Details of those standing for election in South Oxfordshire will be confirmed on Wednesday 5 April – this information will be published on southoxon.gov.uk/localelections2023

Key dates for this election

  • 20 March – candidates nomination period opens
  • 5 April – details of who you can vote for published (by 4pm)
  • 17 April – deadline to register to vote in this election (midnight)
  • 18 April – deadline to apply to vote by post (5pm)
  • 25 April – deadline to apply to vote by proxy (5pm)
  • 25 April – deadline to apply for voter ID (5pm)
  • 4 May – voting day (7am to 10pm)
  • 5 May – election results day

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