Craven District Council : Don’t forget to bring ID to vote in Craven on May 2nd

Don’t forget to bring ID to vote in Craven on May 2nd

Craven residents are being reminded that they will need to provide proof of identity to be able to vote at the next local elections on Thursday May 2, 2019.

Households in Bentham, Embsay-with-Eastby, Gargrave and Malhamdale, Glusburn, Skipton East, Skipton North, Skipton South, Skipton West, Sutton-in-Craven, Upper Wharfedale, and West Craven are all voting in these elections.

Residents have all been sent local election poll cards which state where their polling station is, and remind them that Craven is taking part in a Government voter ID pilot this year.

Residents will need to provide either one form of photo ID, or two forms of non-photo ID, one of which can be their local election poll card, at the polling station before they are able to vote.

Craven District Council will provide an identification certificate free of charge to individuals who do not have the correct ID, ensuring that everyone who is registered has the opportunity to vote. The deadline to apply for an identification certificate is 5pm on Wednesday May 1.

Paul Shevlin, Craven’s Returning Officer, said: “We have carried out a major communications campaign, funded by the Government, to ensure that residents are aware they need ID to vote in the local elections on May 2.

“We have sent out mail directly to all affected households, and advertised widely across the district and on social media.

“We hope everyone has got the message – bring ID to vote on May 2. But if anyone happens to forget, there is a wide range of acceptable documents and you will be able to pop home and come back with the correct identification.

“Voter ID is likely to be introduced nationally in the next few years and we believe that by taking part in this pilot, Craven can help shape the way it will work in the future.”

Postal voting will be unchanged, so residents do not need ID for a postal vote.

European Election poll cards are not an acceptable form of identification for the local elections.

For more information about the Voter ID trial, including a full list of acceptable identification, please go to www.cravendc.gov.uk/voterid