Registering to vote no fixed address Your vote This factsheet provides information on how to register to vote if you don t have a permanent address and how to take part in the local council elections in Wales on Thursday 4 May 2017.
What elections are taking place? On Thursday 4 May there will be local council elections in all local authority areas in Wales. There will also be community council elections in some areas. Councils are responsible for providing local services and facilities including: Homelessness prevention Council housing Social services Education services and schools Local transport Roads and footpaths Waste and recycling Electoral registration Environmental health Leisure and recreation facilities Libraries Local planning Parks and public places Regulation of local business Can I vote? You can vote in these elections if you are 18 or over on Thursday 4 May 2017, are registered to vote and are: a British citizen, a Commonwealth citizen who has leave to remain in the UK or who does not require leave to remain in the UK, or a citizen of the European Union. Registering to vote The deadline to apply to register for these elections is midnight on Thursday 13 April. When registering to vote you need to provide your National Insurance number and date of birth as part of the application.
What if I don t know my National Insurance number? You can find your National Insurance number on payslips, P60, or letters about tax, pensions and benefits. You can phone the National Insurance numbers helpline on 0300 200 3500. They won t tell you your National Insurance number over the phone but will post it to an address you provide within 10 working days. If you cannot provide a National Insurance number you must give a reason why it cannot be provided as part of your application, and your local council may contact you to ask for proof of your identity. How can I register to vote if I don t have a fixed address? Registering in temporary accommodation If you are staying in temporary accommodation you may be able to register at that address. You can apply to register to vote at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Registering with no fixed address If you are homeless, you can still register to vote even if you don t have a fixed address. To apply to register, you will need to fill in a form which is available to download from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voter-registration-forms-paper-versions or it can be requested from your local electoral registration office. You can find contact details for your local electoral office at www.yourvotematters.co.uk The form asks you for an address where you want to be registered. This can be anywhere in the local authority area where you spend a substantial part of your time or have some connection with, for example, a previous permanent address, a shelter or a park bench. You will be assigned to a polling station near to this address to vote on polling day. The form also asks for an address where you can be sent correspondence and your poll card. Alternatively you can opt to pick this up from your local authority.
Anonymous registration You can register to vote anonymously. Instead of your name and address appearing on the electoral register, a code will be added to the register. You can request to register anonymously if your safety (or the safety of someone in the same household as you) would be at risk if your name and address appeared on the electoral register. For example, if you are escaping violence or have a job that puts you at risk from other people. To register to vote anonymously you must supply documentary evidence of a court order or an attestation from an authorised person to support your application. To register to vote anonymously a form can be downloaded from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voter-registration-forms-paper-versions To find out more, you should contact your local electoral registration office. You can find contact details for your local electoral registration team at www.yourvotematters.co.uk
How to vote There are three ways to vote: 1. At your polling station on Thursday 4 May 2017 If you are registered to vote you will receive a poll card telling you where your polling station is. This is usually a school or community building near the place where you have registered to vote. Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm. You do not need your poll card to vote, though it will speed up the process if you do take it with you. If you have lost your poll card, or not received it, you can contact the local council who will tell you where your polling station is. You can find contact details for your local electoral registration team at www.yourvotematters.co.uk 2. By post If you can t attend a polling station on Thursday 4 May, you can apply to vote by post. You do not need to give a reason to vote by post. The deadline to apply to vote by post is 5pm Tuesday 18 April 2017. You can download an application form at: www.yourvotematters.co.uk/how-do-i-vote/voting-by-post The local council can send your ballot paper to the address that was used to register or any other address. You must give a reason if you want your ballot paper sent to a different address. Postal ballot papers must be completed and returned by 10pm Thursday 4 May 2017. You can also take your completed postal ballot pack to any polling station within your constituency on polling day. 3. By proxy (appointing somebody you trust to vote on your behalf ) If you can t attend a polling station on Thursday 4 May, you can ask someone you trust to vote for you. This is called voting by proxy. When you apply for a proxy vote you must provide a reason why you can t vote in person. The deadline to apply to vote by proxy is 5pm Tuesday 25 April 2017. Download the proxy application form at www.yourvotematters.co.uk/how-do-i-vote/voting-by-proxy
Key information What elections are taking place in Wales? On Thursday 4 May, there will be elections to all local councils in Wales. There are also community council elections in some areas. How do I vote? You will be given a ballot paper to vote in the local council elections. There will be instructions at the top of the ballot saying how many councillors you can vote for in your area. Mark an X in the box against the candidate or candidates you want to vote for. You may also be given a ballot paper for the community council elections, if there is a community council election taking place in your area. There will be instructions at the top of the ballot saying how many councillors you can vote for in your area. Mark an X in the box against the candidate or candidates you want to vote for. Where is my polling station? The address of your polling station will be written on your poll card. You can also contact the electoral services department at your local council to find out. When are polling stations open? Polling stations will be open on election day (Thursday 4 May) from 7am to 10pm. You do not need to take your poll card with you to vote, though it will speed up the process if you do take it with you.. If you have a postal vote and have forgotten to return it, you can take your completed postal vote to any polling station in your constituency. What are the key dates? The deadline to apply to register to vote is 13 April The deadline to apply to vote by post is 5pm on 18 April The deadline to apply to vote by proxy is 5pm on 25 April Election Day is 4 May, 7am to 10pm