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Voters in England have been urged to check whether they will be able to contest local elections this year, with polling day exactly one month to go. Anyone wishing to vote will not only have to be registered to vote, but also show photo ID, which is compulsory in England for the first time. Not all types of photo ID will be accepted, but a passport or driver's license is valid.
Anyone without proper identification must apply for a special certificate by April 25, while the deadline to register to vote is April 17.
More than 8,000 council seats are up for grabs on May 4 in 230 local authorities, ranging from small rural councils to some of the biggest cities, though no elections are expected in London or Birmingham.
Votes are also taking place to elect the mayors of Bedford, Leicester, Mansfield and Middlesbrough.
Rishi Sunak hopes to keep the Conservatives' losses to a minimum in what is his first major electoral test as prime minister.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey will be judged on their parties' ability to profit at the expense of the Conservatives, while smaller groups such as the Greens, Residents' Associations and Independents hope to cause surprises. and discomfort.
Craig Westwood, communications director for the Election Commission, told the PA news agency: "Elections are fast approaching and there are a few steps voters need to take to be prepared."
“First, everyone must be registered to vote, and the deadline to apply is April 17 at midnight.
“For the first time in England, voters will be required to present photo identification before receiving a ballot at a polling station.
“There are a variety of IDs that can be used, and the full list can be found on the Electoral Commission website. We encourage everyone to verify now that they have accepted the ID.
“Anyone who doesn't can request a free ID, known as an electoral authority certificate. This can be done quickly online or by submitting a paper form to your local authority. The application deadline is April 25 at 5 pm
“It is important for everyone to make sure they have accepted ID if they intend to vote at a polling station. Voting by mail is not affected by the new ID requirement.
In addition to a passport and driver's license, other valid IDs include a blue badge and senior bus pass, but youth passes are not accepted.
Mandatory photo identification will "protect the integrity of democracy in the UK" and "ensure that the electoral system remains secure, transparent and fair for generations to come," the government said when the proposals became law in April 2022.
Campaign groups Electoral Reform Society and Unlock Democracy have warned that up to two million people in Britain currently do not have the correct form of identification to vote.
An average of 922 daily requests for an election authority certificate were made online in England in the week to April 2, up from 803 the week before, according to analysis of Palestinian Authority government data.
A total of 36,089 applications have been submitted online in England since February 1.
In addition to London and Birmingham, areas not holding an election on May 4 include Cornwall, North Yorkshire and Cumbria.
There are no elections in Scotland and Wales this year.
Local elections in Northern Ireland have been postponed for two weeks until May 18, to avoid a clash with the king's coronation on May 6.
Counting in Northern Ireland usually takes a few days, due to the voting system used for municipal elections, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.
Photo identification became law in Northern Ireland in 2002.
PA files
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