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Have you moved house or recently turned 18? Check that you are registered to vote

People who have moved house or turned 18 since last summer should check they are registered to vote in the upcoming local 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. 

To vote in the local elections you need to be registered at your current address by midnight on Monday 17 April.  Don’t miss out, register now at gov.uk/registertovote.

Mark Stone, Electoral Registration Officer at South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, said: “These elections are your chance to help influence future decisions on important local issues.  Don’t miss this opportunity, make sure you are registered at your current address before it’s too late.”

Other key things that people need to know in the run up to the elections are:

  • 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 whitehorsedc.gov.uk/localelections2023 or southoxon.gov.uk/localelections2023

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

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.

Key dates for this election

  • 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