Local elections will take place in Rotherham on Thursday 2 May this year and Rotherham Council is asking residents to make sure they are registered to vote by Tuesday 16 April.
All seats on Rotherham Borough Council are up for election this year, with polls to elect all Rotherham Borough Councillors, the Mayor for the South Yorkshire Combined Authority and parish councillors across the borough taking place on the same day.
The borough of Rotherham is divided into 25 wards. These wards are each represented by Councillors who were elected in 2021.
Registering to vote
Residents who are not yet registered to vote, have until midnight on Tuesday 16 April to register. Residents can make an application at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
How to vote
There are a number of ways that that residents can vote – by post, by proxy or in person. Information on the elections and how to vote can be found on the Council website at www.rotherham.gov.uk/elections.
Voting in person and voter ID - Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm on polling day and the nearest polling station for each resident appears on their poll cards. Residents can also search for their nearest polling station by visiting https://wheredoivote.co.uk/.
To vote in a polling station, residents will have to show an official form of photographic ID before they can be given a ballot paper, such as a passport, driving license or an older persons bus pass. The full list of photographic identification that can be presented at the polling station can be found on the Council’s website www.rotherham.gov.uk/elections. If they do not have an accepted document, residents can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate by visiting https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate. The deadline for applying for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.
Voting by post - This year there are changes to the way residents can apply for a postal vote, with residents now being able to make an application online www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote. Residents need to provide their national insurance number when applying. The best way for residents to ensure their postal vote is counted is to return it as soon as possible using a Royal Mail post box. The deadline to apply for, amend or cancel a postal vote is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April.
Voting by proxy - Residents can appoint someone else to vote on their behalf by visiting www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote. The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.
Support sessions for registering to vote, voter ID and understanding postal voting
The Council’s elections team will be at Rawmarsh, Aston and Mowbray libraries next week to help residents with registering to vote, voter ID and postal voting, and to answer any non-political questions residents might have about the local elections.
These sessions will be held at:
- Rawmarsh Library - Tuesday 9 April at 11:30am – 1pm
- Aston Library - Wednesday 10 April at 11:30am – 1pm
- Mowbray Gardens Library - Friday 12 April at 1:30pm – 3pm
Sharon Kemp, Rotherham Council Chief Executive and Returning Officer said: “We are reminding Rotherham residents to check that they have registered to vote in this year’s elections, and if not, to do so by 16 April. Voters may consider alternatives to voting in person, such as postal ballots and voting by proxy. It is quick and easy to apply and we would urge residents not to leave it too late to do this.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor
- Information on the elections and how to vote can be found on the Council website at www.rotherham.gov.uk/elections.
- The formal notice of election was published on Friday 26 March. The Council will operate under pre-election publicity restriction guidelines until Friday 3 May.
Nominations for candidates closes on Friday 5 April and names of candidates will be published in the Statement of Persons Nominated on Monday 8 April.