Council urges voters to take up convenient postal vote option

To support residents to vote in the local elections on 4 May, City of York Council is suggesting applying to vote by post, which doesn’t require the photo ID now required by Government to be shown at polling stations.

About 16,500 York voters have a postal vote out of approximately 145,000 voters. Postal votes conveniently allow residents to vote from home anytime in the two weeks between their voting packs arriving on their doormat, and before the end of the election day.

Any voter who will be away from home, has other commitments on election day, or who struggles to get to a polling station, can still cast their ballot by postal vote. York residents’ postal votes can even be handed in at any York polling station before 10pm on election day.

Applying for a postal vote does not require photo ID, and applications will be processed using other forms of verification. Postal votes cast are verified before being opened and counted, and help the Council run its elections even more efficiently. The deadline to apply for a postal vote in time for this year’s local election is 5pm on 18 April.

People who are appointed to vote as a proxy on behalf of an elector, must attend the elector’s normal polling station to cast their vote in person. Alternatively, the proxy can apply for a postal vote and have the ballot papers sent to them.

Anyone who wants to vote in person but who doesn’t have an accepted form of photo ID, can apply for a Government Voter Authority Card (VAC) either online or using a paper application. This requires a photo to be submitted and, if authorised, will last for ten years and be accepted at polling stations.

Bryn Roberts, Deputy Returning Officer at City of York Council, said:“Applying for a postal vote gives electors a longer time frame and more opportunities to take part in the democratic process and cast their vote.

“Applications for a postal vote and verifications of votes cast are robust and secure and help ensure eligible voters have their say in elections. Please do apply for one, or ensure you have acceptable photo ID to vote in person.”

Find out more about:

• Acceptable voter ID: www.york.gov.uk/VoterID
• Applying for a postal vote: www.york.gov.uk/VoteByPost
• Applying for a VAC online: www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.
• For any other queries on voting or elections generally, please visit www.york.gov.uk/elections, email: electoral.services@york.gov.uk or call 01904 551007.

A report on the coming election will be considered by the Executive at its meeting on Thursday 16 March. Read the full report at Agenda for Executive on Thursday, 16 March 2023, 5.30 pm (york.gov.uk)