The Prime Minister has announced Thursday 4 July as the upcoming election date.
That date is coming up fast, so Forge Press have put together a guide of everything you need to know for when it rolls around.
Bring your Photo ID!
Voters in England must now bring a form of ID to polling stations in order to vote, as it became statutory on 4 May 2023.
During the Sheffield local elections, 365 of 562 people who were turned away, returned and voted. This resulted in a loss of almost 200 voters, an issue in Sheffield and nationally.
If you forget your ID, you have the chance to return as long as you do this before polling stations close at 10pm on 4 July.
Returning Officer for Sheffield City Council, Kate Josephs, has given some advice. Sheffield City Council has a list of the acceptable forms of ID on the Council website: Photo ID you need to vote.
This includes passports and driving licences. It is important to know, if your ID has expired it can still be accepted as long as the photo looks like you. You must bring the original version.
Kate Josephs shared that if you don’t have an acceptable form of ID, you can apply for a free photo ID, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. You can apply for this via the Government’s Election website: Apply for photo ID Voter Authority Certificate.
You must apply by 5:00pm on Wednesday 26 June.
Sheffield City Council is focused on providing support, tweeting that all Sheffield polling stations are accessible with wheelchair-friendly booths and large print ballot papers:
All polling stations in Sheffield are accessible with:
• Wheelchair-friendly booths
• Large print ballot papers
• Tactile voting devices
• Magnifiers for visually impaired voters and writing aids
• Private photo ID screening boothsFind out morehttps://t.co/012rnhUkfW pic.twitter.com/bVQH4A5uYp
— Sheffield City Council (@SheffCouncil) June 20, 2024
You can request for your ID to be checked in a private area by a specific staff member. They can answer any questions you have, especially if it is your first time voting.
Registering for postal or proxy votes
The deadline for registering to vote in this general election has now passed. If you haven’t registered, you can complete the application before the next election: Register to Vote.
You can vote in person, by post or by proxy.
In person voting means going to your local polling station, which can be found in a letter sent to you near the election time. It has ‘general election’ and ‘do not ignore, poll card enclosed’ on it, making it easily recognisable.
If you lose the letter, you can head to: Where Do I Vote.
If you will be away during the election time, you can vote by post or by proxy.
The deadline for postal vote application has passed, but you would apply through the government website here: Apply For Postal Vote.
Voting by proxy is giving someone else permission to vote on your behalf. The application is found here: Apply For Proxy Vote. This deadline has not passed. If you are away on the 4 July, then you must complete the application by 5:00pm on Wednesday 26 June.
If you have any questions to do with the election, Kate Josephs has explained that voters can contact Sheffield City Council. The Council website has more information about the general election.
Remember to bring your photo ID on Thursday 4 July. Make your vote count for Sheffield’s students.
Featured image credit – Wikimedia Commons
