Are You Registered to Vote? Deadline Approaching for Cornwall’s Local Elections

With just five weeks left until the voter registration deadline for the local elections on 1st May, residents in Cornwall are being urged to check their registration status to ensure they can have their say.

Who Needs to Register?

Research suggests that young people, students, and those who have recently moved are most at risk of missing out on their vote. The deadline to register is midnight on 11th April, and applying is quick and easy – it takes just five minutes at gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Once registered, voters have several options:

• In-person voting at a polling station
• Postal voting
• Proxy voting, where someone votes on your behalf

Voter ID Requirement

Voters heading to polling stations must bring photo ID such as a passport or driving licence. A full list of accepted IDs can be found on the Electoral Commission website.

If you don’t have an accepted form of ID, you can apply for free voter ID online at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate or by submitting a paper form to Cornwall Council.

Don’t Miss These Key Deadlines

• Register to vote: Midnight, 11th April
• Apply for a postal vote: 5pm, 14th April
• Apply for a proxy vote: 5pm, 23rd April

Kate Kennally, Chief Executive of Cornwall Council and Returning Officer for Cornwall, stressed the importance of taking part, saying:

“Don’t lose your chance to have your say in the Cornwall Council and town and parish council elections in May. Local elections are an important opportunity to have your say on who represents you and makes decisions about issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Cornwall.”

Niki Nixon, Director of Communications at the Electoral Commission, added:

“It’s important that people check they’re ready to vote ahead of the upcoming local elections. All voters must be registered, and some may need to apply for a postal, proxy vote or free ID.”

Anyone with questions about voter registration, postal or proxy votes, or free ID can contact Cornwall Council’s elections team by calling 01872 324 196 or emailing voter-registration@cornwall.gov.uk.

For more details, visit the Cornwall Council website.