Have your say on Thursday 2 May – and don’t forget to bring photo ID
Voters will go to the polls on Thursday 2 May for important local elections – and are reminded to bring approved photo ID.
Twenty-one of the 56 seats on St Albans City and District Council are up for election. There is also an election for the Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
Exactly 111,023 people are eligible to vote with 20,301 having applied to do so by post
Voters are required to present photo ID at polling stations in order to vote. Approved ID includes a passport or driver’s licence, current or expired, and Government-funded bus passes for older or disabled people.
A PASS card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram can also be used. A full list of approved photo ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website here.
Greeters will be on duty at polling station entrances to remind people to have their photo ID ready and to deal with any related issues.
Anyone who cannot provide approved photo ID will not be able to vote.
Amanda Foley, the District’s Returning Officer, said:
It is important residents use their vote on Thursday 2 May and have their say.
I would urge everyone to check they have photo ID with them before setting off to vote.
People should also check their poll card to make sure they know the location of their polling station.
You do not need your poll card to vote, but we do encourage you to bring it with you to make the process quicker and more efficient.
Voters who have opted to vote by post must return their postal ballot pack by 10pm on the day of the election if they haven't done so already. They can hand it in at their polling station if there is no time to return it by post, but anyone who does so will need to complete a short form.
Emergency Proxy Vote
Residents can in certain circumstances apply for an emergency proxy vote up to 5pm on polling day.
This may be because of a sudden illness, for example, which has prevented them from visiting a polling station.
A proxy vote allows the voter to nominate someone they trust to vote on their behalf.
To apply for an emergency proxy vote, you should contact the Council’s Electoral Services team at elections@stalbans.gov.uk or 01727 819294.
Results
Votes for the District Council elections will be counted on Friday 3 May and the results will be announced on the Council’s website that afternoon / evening.
A list of the candidates who are standing is available here.
District Council information
The District Council has a wide range of responsibilities including planning, social housing, recycling and waste disposal, parks, leisure facilities and car parking.
There are elections in 18 of the Council’s 20 wards, the exceptions being Redbourn and Colney Heath.
There are by-elections in three wards: Batchwood, London Colney, and Sandridge & Wheathampstead.
In those wards, the candidate with the most votes will be elected for a full four-year term and the candidate with the second most votes will also be elected for a reduced term of two or three years.
The current political composition of St Albans City and District Council is: Liberal Democrats, 45 Councillors; Conservative Party, 4; Green Party 3; Independent, 1; and vacancies, 3.
Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner information
This is a county-wide election with the Police and Crime Commissioner being responsible for ensuring an efficient and effective police force as well as holding the chief constable to account.
A full list of the candidates can be found here.
Broxbourne Borough Council is co-ordinating the election and will announce the result some time after counting completes on Saturday 4 May.
More information about the elections can be found on St Albans City and District Council’s website here.
Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727-819533; john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.