By-election called for Maiden Erlegh & Whitegates Ward

Residents of Maiden Erlegh & Whitegates Ward are being urged to check they are registered to vote ahead of a by-election, which will take place in June to fill a vacant seat on Wokingham Borough Council.

The election will be held on Thursday 5 June, with the candidates set to be confirmed on Friday 9 May, following the deadline for nominations on Thursday 8 May.

In addition to the borough council by-election, there may also be a by-election to represent Redhatch Ward on Earley Town Council if the seat is contested. This will be confirmed when the Statement of Persons Nominated is published on Friday 9 May.

If contested, the deadlines and date for this by-election will be the same as for the seat on the borough council.

Some residents will be able to vote in both elections, but others may only be eligible to vote in one or the other. It is important to read your poll card carefully, as it will tell you which elections you are eligible to vote in.

Anyone who wishes to vote must be registered. The deadline to register for the above elections is Monday 19 May. It only takes five minutes and you will be asked for your National Insurance number, but it is still possible to register without one.

Following national changes to elections and voting, residents are also required to bring suitable photo ID when they vote. Accepted forms of ID include:

• Passport
• Full or provisional driving licence
• Blue badge
• Certain concessionary travel cards, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card
• Identity card with Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) mark
• Biometric Immigration document
• Defence identity card
• HM Armed Forces veteran card
• Certain national identity cards

Expired ID will also be accepted as long as the photograph on the document still resembles a likeness of the elector. A full list of accepted forms of ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website, along with more information about how to apply.

If you do not have any of the approved forms of ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate in order to take part. The deadline to apply is 5pm on Wednesday 28 May.

It is also possible to take part as an absent voter. The deadline for receipt of postal vote applications is 5pm on Tuesday 20 May and for proxy vote applications is 5pm on Wednesday 28 May.

Changes to absent voting

There have also been changes to postal and proxy voting, with postal vote applications now valid for three years instead of five. 

For security reasons, all postal and proxy vote applications must include a signature, date of birth and your National Insurance number, whether you are applying online or by post.

Anyone who would like to receive a paper application form for either a postal or proxy vote should contact electoralservices@wokingham.gov.uk

The votes will be counted overnight following the close of the polls at 10pm on 5 June.