By-elections called for both District and County Councils
Two Council by-elections will take place in St Albans District on Thursday 7 December 2023.
One election is for a vacant seat in the Sandridge and Wheathampstead ward of St Albans City and District Council.
The other is for the Harpenden Rural division of Hertfordshire County Council.
Poll cards are now being issued and voters are asked to check to see which polling station they should attend as there may have been a change.
Voter ID
Voters are reminded they will need to show approved photo ID to vote at a polling station. This includes a current or expired UK passport or driver’s licence.
Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply online for free ID known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
They can do so on the Electoral Commission’s website where details of approved photo ID are also available: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id.
The deadline for applying for a Voter Authority Certificate for the by-elections is 5pm on Wednesday 29 November.
Key Dates
If you are not already registered to vote, the deadline to do so is Tuesday 21 November. It only takes a few minutes to register at your current address by going online at www.gov.uk/registertovote.
People who were eligible to vote in May’s local elections and whose details have not changed will still be registered.
They can check by contacting the Council’s Electoral Services team on 01727 819294 or elections@stalbans.gov.uk.
Residents who are unable to get to a polling station on Thursday 7 December can apply to vote by post or proxy.
The deadline for applying for a postal vote, amending a postal vote or amending a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday 22 November.
The deadline for applying for a new proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday 29 November.
Forms to apply to vote by post or proxy are available from the Council’s Electoral Services team or at the Electoral Commission’s website: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter.
Other information
The by-elections have been called following the resignations of former County Councillor Annie Brewster and former District Councillor Kristian Gavan.
The candidate lists will be published online at www.stalbans.gov.uk/elections-and-results on Friday 10 November after 4pm.
The elected County Council candidate will serve until May 2025, and the elected District Council candidate will serve until May 2024.
Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, 01727-819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.