Polls have opened this morning across Wokingham Borough and around the country, and here’s a round-up of information you might need.
When and where to vote
Polling stations opened at 7am and will remain open until 10pm this evening. You should have received a polling card via post, and this tells you where your nearest polling station is. This is where you’ve been registered to vote.
Don’t worry if you’ve lost the card, you can still vote. All voters will need to give their name and address to the staff at their polling station to vote.
Voters with disabilities will have extra assistance in polling stations, and can bring anyone over the age of 18 to help them vote.
They can also ask polling station staff to help cast their vote.
Photo ID
You now need to take a photo ID with you when you vote. This is part of new government rules around voting that have been in place since May 2023. Forms of ID that can be used include a passport, a driving licence and blue badge, but there’s a full list which can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website.
Don’t worry if your ID has recently expired – it will still be accepted as long as you still look like the photograph on the document.
Failing to turn up without suitable ID will result in you not being issued with a ballot paper.
Constituency changes
Electoral boundary changes mean that Wokingham borough now has two seats, not one as previously. These are Wokingham, and Earley and Woodley.
Proxy and postal voting
A proxy voter is somebody that votes on behalf of somebody else if that person cannot go to a polling station. You can only act as a proxy for a maximum of four people, and only two of these can be for domestic voters.
If someone has an emergency, they can apply for an emergency proxy. Circumstances that permit this include if you have a medical emergency, you are away for work, or if your photo ID is lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged.
Residents can apply for an emergency proxy until 5pm today.
Those voting by post should have received a postal ballot pack. Anyone who is too late to return it by post can hand it in at the council offices, or take it to their polling station up to 10pm.
If you are going to hand it in, you will have to fill out an additional form with a staff member, otherwise the postal vote will be rejected.
