Here's what you should know before voting in the May elections
03.04.2024 - 14:39
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Voters are being issued with an important reminder ahead of elections taking place across Greater Manchester on Thursday, May 2 this year.
Ballots will be held to elect the mayor of Greater Manchester as well as local elections, and the city mayor election in Salford.
To begin with, members of the public must be on the the electoral register if they wish to vote. If they are not already registered, the deadline to apply is Tuesday, April 16.
Individuals can apply to be registered and choose how they want to vote online, via the GOV.UK website.
Since last year, it has been a national requirement that electors show their voter ID at a polling station.
When they arrive at their allocated venue, they will be asked their name and address, as it appears on the electoral register. They must then prove who they are by showing valid photo ID. These include:
An individual's photo ID can be out of date, but it must clearly look like them.
If they don’t have any of the above forms of accepted photo ID, or if the photo on their ID no longer looks like them, they can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate online.
The deadline to apply for the document is 5pm on Wednesday, April 24, if it is to be used for the elections on Thursday, May 2.
Those who have changed their name, and have a name on their Photo ID that is different to their name on the electoral register, can take a document such as a marriage certificate with them when they vote.
Those who are in any doubt about their voter ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.
There are no changes for existing postal voters this May and postal voters do not need photo ID. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is5pm on Wednesday, April 17.
Individuals who are new postal