Make sure you’re registered to vote

Wakefield Council is reminding residents how quick and easy it is to register to vote ahead of the General Election on 4 July.

Residents have until midnight on 18 June to make sure they are registered, in order to vote.

Poll cards have started to be delivered to households who are already registered to vote this week in preparation for July’s election.

The cards include details of the local polling station and times of polling for the General Election.

Anyone who is registered to vote but has not received their poll card by Friday 7 June 2024 should contact Electoral Services on 01924 305023 or email elections@wakefield.gov.uk

Residents are also reminded that they will need to show photo ID before voting at their polling station.

It is quick and simple to register to vote by visiting www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. People will need their date of birth and National Insurance number to hand. They can also opt to have their details excluded from the ‘open register’, meaning that the information cannot be used for direct marketing.

It is important that everyone eligible is registered to vote because banks, building societies and loan companies use the register to verify the address of applicants before approving loans and bank accounts.

Anyone who has moved house recently, or changed other details such as their name, may not be registered correctly so should contact Electoral Services to check by calling 01924 305023 or by emailing elections@wakefield.gov.uk.

Those aged 16 and 17 can also register to vote so that they will be eligible to vote in the next election after their 18th birthday.

For more information, please visit www.wakefield.gov.uk/elections

There have been changes to parliamentary constituencies in our district. This means the Wakefield district will now be covered by four new constituencies instead of three.

These changes affect everyone. Some people will now live in a different constituency and for others, it will just be the name of your constituency that has changed. To find out what changes have been made to your parliamentary constituency, visit https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/elections/voter-information/changes-to-parliamentary-constituencies/

Voter ID

Anyone who does not have one of the required forms of photo ID will be able to get a free Voter Authority Certificate from the Council. To apply, visit www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate. The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for the July election is at 5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024.

If someone loses all their forms of identification before the deadline for applications for a Voter Authority Certificate has passed, or if their identification is stolen, destroyed or damaged beyond use, they may apply for a Voter Authority Certificate at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

If they lose their identification after the deadline for applications for a Voter Authority Certificate, they will have the ability to apply for an emergency proxy for that polling day. To do so, please visit www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote

Anyone who needs help with applying for a Voter Authority Certificate can their visit their local library, who can help them complete the form. People can find their local library at https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/libraries-and-local-history/your-local-library