Final ‘Register to Vote’ Call to Ribble Valley Electors

Elections for a police and crime commissioner for Lancashire take place on Thursday, 2 May.

And if you want to have your say you must be on the electoral register by midnight on Tuesday, 17 April.

The police and crime commissioner has responsibility for governing Lancashire Constabulary and holding its chief constable to account.

The following three candidates are standing for election as the police and crime commissioner for Lancashire: Neil Darby (Liberal Democrats), Clive Grunshaw (Labour Party), Andrew Snowden (Conservative Party).

To vote in the election you must be registered to vote, over 18, living at an address in the area you want to vote in and not excluded from voting.

You must also be a British, Irish or EU citizen, or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen.

You can register to vote at gov.uk/register-to-vote or further details are available from Ribble Valley Borough Council’s elections team on 01200 414411.

Don’t forget you can also vote by post or proxy if you would prefer not to vote in person.

Postal and proxy voters must now apply online to vote and supply their national insurance number and a signature.

There is also now a limit on the number of people proxy voters can vote on behalf of – up to two people living in the UK and two people registered as living overseas or on active service.

New postal or proxy vote applications can be made online at www.electoralcommission.org.uk.

Applications for a new postal vote – and to change an existing postal or proxy vote – must be made by 5pm on Wednesday, 17 April.

Finally, don’t forget to take photo-ID to your polling station if you are voting in person.

There are numerous forms of acceptable ID, including passports, driving licences and bus passes, and you are even able to use expired ID if you are still recognisable from the photo.

But if you do not have one of the accepted forms of ID you can apply for free photo-ID, called a Voter Authority Certificate, online.

To apply for the certificate, you will need to provide a photograph, your full name, date of birth, the address at which you are registered to vote and national insurance number or other form of proof of identity, such as a birth certificate, bank statement or utility bill.

The deadline for a voter authority certificate application is 5pm on Wednesday, 24 April.

You can also download a paper application form and post it to Elections Team, Ribble Valley Borough Council, Council Offices, Church Walk, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 2RA.

Or you can phone the council’s elections team on 01200 414411 or 01200 414426 to book an appointment to complete the form in person.