Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Election 2024

Key information for electors

Key dates and information for electors can be found as follows:

Registering to vote

The last day to register to vote for the election is midnight on Tuesday 16 April 2024. If you are not registered to vote, please go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Further information can be found on registration.

Apply for a voter authority certificate to use as voter ID

You will need to apply for a voter authority certificate by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024. If you need to apply for a voter authority certificate, please go to https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

Further information can be found on voter ID

Find your polling station

Your poll card will contain the polling station you have been assigned for this election. If you would prefer to check online, you can find this information via the Democracy Club Polling Station Finder.

Choosing to vote by post

You can apply for a postal vote online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote. Alternatively, you can download and complete a Postal Vote Application form.

We will need to receive your postal vote application (either online or physically in our office) by 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024 to put this in place for this election. Any postal vote applications received after this time (including applications received by post after this time) will not be able to be processed for this election.

Further information can be found on postal voting.

Cancelling or changing an existing postal vote

To cancel an existing postal vote, you must inform us in writing. This can be done by emailing the Elections team at electreg@newcastle-staffs.gov.uk or writing in to Elections, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Castle House, Barracks Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1BL.

We will need to receive your cancellation by 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024.

If you are looking to make a change to your postal vote, we recommend that you complete a new application.

Returning postal vote packs

From May 2024 onwards, though returning postal vote packs by a Royal Mail post box will continue as normal, those who choose to hand their postal vote packs in at a polling station or at the offices of Castle House will only be able to hand in a total of 6 (your own and up to 5 others). You will also be asked to fill in a form when handing postal votes in at a polling station or our offices. Based on new legislation, any postal vote packs handed into a polling station or the offices of Castle House by someone who does not complete a form will be rejected and not included in the vote.

Political parties and campaigners will be banned from handling postal vote packs entirely.

Choosing to vote by proxy

To appoint someone to vote on your behalf as a proxy, you will need to complete a proxy vote application. You can apply for a proxy vote online at www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote. Alternatively, you can download and complete a Proxy Vote Application form.

We will need to receive this is in the office by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024. Any proxy vote applications received after this time will not be processed for this election.

Further information can be found on proxy voting.

Cancelling or changing an existing proxy vote

To cancel an existing proxy vote, you must inform us in writing. This can be done by emailing the Elections team at electreg@newcastle-staffs.gov.uk or writing in to Elections, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Castle House, Barracks Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1BL.

We will need to receive your cancellation by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024.

If you are looking to make a change to your proxy vote, we recommend that you complete a new application.

Voting by emergency proxy

Emergency proxies are for medical, work or lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged photo ID related issues that have arisen after the proxy deadline on 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024.

We will need to receive completed emergency proxy applications by 5pm on Thursday 2 May 2024.

Further information on emergency proxies can be found.