When is the deadline to register to vote in the local and London mayoral elections?
With the local, mayoral, and police commissioner elections just around the corner on May 2nd, time is running out to register to vote. For those who have not yet registered or are unsure about their eligibility, the deadline to submit their application is rapidly approaching. Individuals have until 11:59 pm on Tuesday night to register, and the process can be conveniently completed online through the government's register to vote website.
These upcoming elections will see nearly 2,700 council seats up for grabs across 107 local authorities in England, in addition to the selection of 37 police and crime commissioners in England and Wales. Moreover, some of the most high-profile mayors in the country, including those in London, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands, will be elected. The estimated number of eligible voters for these elections stands at around 44 million. However, concerning statistics from the Electoral Commission, the body overseeing all elections in the UK, reveal that up to seven million people are either inaccurately registered or completely missing from the voting register.
The urgency to register is underscored by the significant surge in applications received in recent days. On Monday alone, 43,037 applications were submitted, marking the highest number for a single day this year and surpassing the previous peak of 31,496 on April 2nd. In the week leading up to April 15th, there was an average of 26,968 applications per day, a notable increase from the previous week's 25,552 and the corresponding figure of 20,220 two weeks prior.
Craig Westwood, the director of communications at the Electoral Commission, emphasizes the importance of registering before the deadline, stating, "Only people who are registered can have their say on issues important to their local area, so don't delay." He also highlights the ease and simplicity of the registration process, requiring only basic information such as name, date of birth, address, and National Insurance number. It is crucial to note that individuals who have recently moved or experienced changes in their personal details must register to vote again.
In addition to registration, voters must also be prepared to present valid photo identification at the polling station. While not all forms of photo ID will be accepted, options such as a passport, driving licence, or blue badge are considered valid. Those without the required identification can apply for a voter authority certificate (VAC) by 5 pm on April 24th. The application for a VAC can be completed online. The introduction of photo ID rules was implemented through the Elections Act 2022, with the government citing the need to address the risk of in-person voter fraud. These requirements were first enforced during last year's local elections in England.
According to a report by the Electoral Commission, approximately 14,000 individuals, constituting 0.25% of voters, were unable to vote during the previous elections due to their failure to present an accepted form of photo ID at the polling station. Government figures reveal that so far this year, 33,677 applications for a voter authority certificate have been submitted. In the week leading up to April 15th, there was an average of 859 VAC applications per day, a slight decrease from the previous week's figure of 865 but a significant increase from the 507 applications made two weeks earlier. Demographically, the majority of VAC applications in the most recent week were from individuals aged 55 to 64, accounting for 29% of the total. This was followed by applications from individuals aged 45 to 54 (22%), 35 to 44 (17%), 25 to 34 (12%), and 65 to 74 (9%). Notably, only 8% of VAC applications in the most recent week came from people under 25, while 3% were from those aged 75 and over.
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