VOTERS going to the polls tomorrow (Thursday) are reminded they must take photo ID with them or they won’t be able to vote.

All 82 seats on Cheshire East Council are up for grabs and there are also elections for town and parish councils across parts of the borough.

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm and the location of your polling station will be on your poll card, which you should have received through the post a few weeks ago.

A list of all polling stations, together with all candidates standing for the Cheshire East Council election, can also be found on the Cheshire East website here.

A list of polling stations and candidates standings in the town and parish council elections across Cheshire East can be found on the council’s website here.

 

Knutsford Guardian:

For the first time, anyone wishing to vote will have to take one of the following forms of ID with them – and it must be the original and not a photocopy.

  • Passport
  • Driving Licence
  • Blue badge
  • Older Person’s Bus Pass
  • Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
  • Oyster 60+ Card
  • Freedom Pass
  • Scottish National Entitlement Card
  • 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
  • Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
  • Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
  • Biometric immigration document
  • Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
  • National identity card issued by an EEA state
  • Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
  • Voter Authority Certificate
  • Anonymous Elector’s Document

The Electoral Commission has said photo ID can still be used if it is out of date, as long as it looks like you. The name on the ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.

Voters can ask to show their photo ID in a private area of the polling station.

They can also request that a female member of staff checks their ID. This request will be granted if possible.

The electoral commission says if anyone wears a face covering for any reason, such as a mask worn on medical grounds or a face veil worn on religious grounds, they will be asked to remove it so polling station staff can check your ID looks like you.

If you arrive at a polling station without an accepted form of photo ID, you will be asked to return with ID that is accepted.

Polling station staff will complete a form to record that a ballot paper couldn’t be issued, and the reason why.

The total number of voters who later return with accepted ID and are issued with a ballot paper will also be recorded.

If you have applied for a proxy vote, the person you have nominated to vote on your behalf will need to show their own photo ID to cast your vote. They will not need to show your ID.

For more information about voter ID and voting at the polling station visit the electoral commission website here.