Countdown to the vote

There’s just a few days to go until voters can choose who represents them in District, Parish and Town Council elections on 4th May.

Residents who have registered to vote will have received a polling card in the post. On the card, voters will be able to find details of their local polling station.

They do not need to take their card with them in order to vote, but they can only cast their vote at the polling station they are registered with, so it’s important to check first.

Polling stations across South Kesteven will be open between 7am and 10pm for voting. Counting will begin after the polls close, and results will be posted throughout the night shortly after the completion of each count.

Returning Officer and SKDC Chief Executive Karen Bradford said: “On 4th May, we will have 95 polling stations ready for registered electors to cast their votes.

“Voters will notice a few changes to the normal process with the introduction of Voter ID. However, staff at the polling station are there to help and answer any questions you may have.” 

The Council is reminding voters that they will need to show photo ID when arriving at their polling station and cannot be issued with a ballot papers unless they present one of the accepted forms of ID

Voters should anticipate this process taking longer than usual and the possibility of short queues forming at busy times.

Accepted forms of ID include a UK, Commonwealth or EEA passport or driving licence and some concessionary travel passes. A full list of accepted ID is available at: https://bit.ly/41Yn0CK.

Only original documents can be accepted, polling station staff will not be able to accept copies or photographs of ID. Voters can use expired ID as long as their photo remains a good likeness of them. The name on their ID should be the same name they used to register to vote.

Voters without ID who applied before the deadline can also bring their Voter Authority Certificate.

For voters who are voting by post, postal votes must be received by the Returning Officer by 10pm on 4th May to be counted.

Postal voters can also deliver their completed postal vote by hand to one of the polling stations within their ward on polling day.

Further information can be found via the SKDC website: https://bit.ly/3oAF8Ep.