Voting? Don't forget your ID!

With just 13 weeks to go until this year’s local elections, people are being reminded that they will need photo ID if they are going to vote at a polling station.

Elections for Exeter City Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will take place on Thursday May 2, with polling stations open across the city from 7am to 10pm.

Those who are not on the electoral register can register to vote by visiting the Electoral Commission website. It only takes five minutes and people will need their National Insurance number. Those who can’t register online can download a paper form.

When it comes to the big day, voters will need to show photo ID to vote at a polling station. The deadline for free voter ID for the May elections is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.

There are a number of accepted forms of ID that can be shown at the polling station. These include:

• Passports
• Driving Licence
• Blue Badge
• Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government

Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

For a full list of accepted ID, along with more information about the requirement and details of how to apply for the free ID, click here.

Many residents however elect to vote by post and postal applications are now open. Registering for a postal vote is easy and can be done online on the city council website.