PHOTO IDs & MAY ELECTIONS
The nomination papers are ready, there’s still time to register to vote, and now is the time to apply for a voter Authority Certificate if you need one
Below you will find information that explains what you need to do to be sure of voting in the local elections in May. This guide will be of particular use to people wishing to stand as either a Parish or District Councillor as it explains contains documents explaining how to fill in a candidate’s nomination paperwork as well as a detailed election schedule.
Voting at polling stations
From Thursday 4 May, when voting at a polling station you will be required to provide a valid form of photo identification.
Valid forms of Voter ID include a passport, drivers licence, blue badge, older person’s bus pass, or a number of other forms of Voter ID.
If you don’t have an approved ID, you will need to apply for a free ‘Voter Authority Certificate’ (VAC) to take with you when you vote.
Voter ID is not required if you vote by post.
► Get full details of this year’s local elections on 4 May
Make sure you are registered to vote
You will need to register to vote in the May local elections if you’ve never registered before, have recently moved house or have changed your name.
To ensure you can have your say in these elections, make sure you are registered to vote by 11.59pm on Monday 17 April.
Nominations
Nomination papers can now be downloaded from the Uttlesford District Council website and submitted from Wednesday 22 March.
Anyone who wants to stand or re-stand for the district or local parish councils needs to complete and submit a nomination paper by hand to the Returning Officer at the council offices in Saffron Walden by 4pm, Tuesday 4 April.
Please do not to leave the submission of your nomination to the last day. This is an absolute deadline and a minute past 4pm is too late and will be rejected.
Nomination papers can be brought in from 9am on Wed 22 March. Appointments do not need to be made but if someone was bringing in several such as the whole of the parish the Electoral Services team at the District Council would greatly appreciate an appointment being made.
Candidates will be asked to wait as Electoral Services carry out an informal check of the paper. The nomination is not validly accepted until we issue the Validity Notice that is posted by law to the candidate.
The nomination section is now ready for any sitting councillor or anyone new standing to go online and download the nomination paper:
Local-Elections-2023-Nominations.
It is set to be printed double sided. You must print and submit ALL the pages so this includes the pages that may not apply and the legal extracts – this is a legal requirement.
Electoral Services team at UDC will NOT be posting any of these.
If someone wants to collect a nomination paper UDC say they can make them available on demand at their Reception in Saffron Walden.
People who do so will still be told to read everything on the UDC website as all the guidance about the election campaign is there.
I have attached a copy of the parish paper and a SAMPLE annotated paper that can be referred to. Also a copy of the timetable of events.
