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The deadline to register is midnight next Tuesday (18 June) and North Somerset Council is urging people to make sure they are registered in time.
Nicholas Brain, the council’s Returning Officer, said:
“If you want to be able to cast your vote in the General Election on Thursday 4 July, you must be registered.
“The quickest and easiest way to do this is online at www.gov.uk/registertovote. You’ll need your National Insurance number to hand and it only takes five minutes to do.
“If you were registered to vote in the last election and your details haven’t changed, then don’t worry as you don’t need to reregister. But if, for example, you’ve recently turned 18 or moved home, it’s important you make sure you’re registered to vote."
Once registered, people can choose to apply for a postal vote or a proxy vote where they appoint someone they trust to vote in their place.
The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday 26 June. Applications can be made at www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.
Both the voter and their proxy must be registered to vote and the person acting as a proxy must be able to attend the voter’s polling station. The proxy must also have their own accepted form of voter ID.
The deadline to apply for a new postal vote or make changes to an existing registration is 5pm next Wednesday (19 June). The quickest and easiest way to apply for a postal vote is online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.
North Somerset Council’s postal vote packs will be dispatched by the Royal Mail on Tuesday 18 June to voters who had registered for a postal vote by May 30.
Packs will be sent to people who registered for a postal vote from May 31 onwards but before the deadline, on Wednesday 26 June.
Registered voters who intend to vote in person at a polling station must also make sure they have an acceptable form of photo ID. It is a legal requirement for electors to present an approved type of photo ID to polling station staff before they can be issued a ballot paper.
Valid forms of ID include a UK passport, driving licence, blue badge, older person’s bus pass and a disabled person’s bus pass. A full list of accepted IDs can be found on the council’s website.
Registered voters who want to vote at a polling station but do not have an accepted photo ID can apply for a free ID, called a Voter Authority Certificate, before 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.
Alternatively, North Somerset Council elections team can issue a paper application form for a Voter Authority Certificate. They can be contacted by calling 01934 634 909 or emailing electoral.services@n-somerset.gov.uk.
Find out more about voting in General Election 2024 at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/ge2024.