Postal vote arrangements
New rules have been introduced to support the security of postal voting at elections.
If you have an existing postal vote, or as a registered elector, you apply for a postal vote for these elections, these new rules will apply.
Anyone returning a postal vote by hand to the Returning Officer must complete a postal vote return form. A postal vote returned by hand that is not accompanied by a postal vote return form will be rejected. There are also new limits on the number of postal votes that can be handed in by one person.
Postal voters are encouraged to use the Royal Mail envelope provided with the postal vote pack, where ever possible.
Electors who wish to hand their postal vote in at the polling stations or designated council offices must complete a postal vote return form for the postal vote to be accepted.
- At polling stations: Presiding Officers and Clerks will have the necessary form to be completed at the polling station.
- Council Offices: Signage will be in place at each office to tell electors where they need to go to complete the form necessary for them to hand their postal vote in.
Postal votes should not be put through the letter boxes or internal mail boxes in the buildings as these will have to be rejected.
Voter ID
In the UK you are legally required to show photo identification (ID) when voting at a polling station at this election.
Examples of photo ID
You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable. You can use any of the following:
- Passport
- Driving licence (including provisional license)
- Blue badge
- Certain concessionary travel cards
- Identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
- Biometric Immigration document
- Defence identity card
- Certain national identity cards
You will only need to show one form of photo ID, but it needs to be the original version and not a photocopy. The name on your ID must be the same name you used to register to vote.
If you don't have an accepted form of photo ID
If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
Apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate.
If you need any help with applying for a Voter Authority Certificate or want to request an application form, contact our elections team by email at elections@cumberland.gov.uk .
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for use at a particular election is 5pm, six working days before the date of that election.
For more information, including the full list of accepted forms of photo ID, visit the Electoral Commission website or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.
For a series of accessible video explainers about to voter ID, go to the council's YouTube channel.
Translated information
Electoral ID information translated into various languages can be found on the Electoral Commission website.