Make sure you’re ready to have your say on 5 May

With nine days left until people in North Herts go to the polls, North Herts Council is urging voters to get ready for the upcoming local elections.

Eligible voters have already been sent a poll card to tell them if there is an election happening in their area and where they should go to cast their vote, or if they have a postal vote. Voters who vote in a polling station will be allocated a polling station based on their home address. Information on polling stations is also available on the Electoral Commission website.

Staff will be on hand to assist voters with any questions about filling out their ballot paper. There are also a number of things that will be available at polling stations to help people cast their vote, including large print sample ballot papers and tactile voting devices to help those with a visual impairment.

If you are a postal voter and have not received your postal voting pack by Thursday 28 April, please get in touch with the elections team at elections@north-herts.gov.uk

Melanie Stimpson, Returning Officer for North Herts Council, said: “Make sure you check the information on your poll card, as your polling station might have changed since the last election. You do not need your poll card to vote, but we encourage you to bring it with you to make the process quicker and more efficient. We look forward to welcoming voters to our polling stations in North Herts on 6 May.”

Ailsa Irvine, Director of Electoral Administration and Guidance at the Electoral Commission, said: “Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 5 May. Voters who have opted to vote by post must return their postal ballot pack by 10pm; they can hand it in at their polling station if they don’t have time to return it by post.”

Those voting in person on 5 May might see some public health measures in place at polling stations, similar to those in place in other indoor venues. North Herts will be following the latest public health guidance to make sure polling stations are safe places to vote.

If you are self-isolating or become unwell as a result of Covid-19, you don’t need to lose your vote. Voters have up to 5pm on polling day to apply for an emergency proxy vote. This allows them to nominate someone they trust to vote on their behalf. For further information on how to apply for an emergency proxy, voters should contact the electoral registration team at North Herts Council: elections@north-herts.gov.uk

For further information on elections in their area, voters can visit Electoral Commission website - this page will continue to be updated ahead of the polls.