To vote in a general or local government election you must:

• Be registered to vote
  Be 18 or over on the day of the election
  Be a British, Irish, Commonwealth or EU citizen
  Be registered at an address in the area you want to vote in (local election only)
  Not be legally excluded from voting

EU citizens
EU citizens will no longer automatically be entitled to register, vote or stand for election. Two groups of EU citizens will keep these rights;

EU citizens with retained rights, who were living in the UK before 1 January 2021 (before the UK left the EU).
Under the proposed changes, EU citizens who were living in the UK before the end of the EU Withdrawal Agreement Implementation Period (up until 1 January 2021) would keep their right to vote and stand in elections.

EU citizens who have arrived in the UK since 1 January 2021 would have these rights, where the UK Government has negotiated reciprocal agreements with EU Members States to allow its citizens living in the UK to vote, in return for the same right for UK citizens living in that country.
So far these agreements have been made with:

• Spain
  Portugal
  Luxembourg
  Poland

The changes will not affect citizens of the Republic of Ireland or citizens of Commonwealth nations.

These change will apply to all local elections and referendums in England, all elections for council and combined authority mayors, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections and are expected to take place by spring 2024.

Dual nationality residents - would use highest level nationality to register.

Overseas voter
UK citizens living abroad can apply to be an overseas voter. You must have been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years and be eligible to vote in UK Parliamentary general elections and European Parliamentary elections.

If you were too young to register when you left the UK, you can still register as an overseas voter. You can do this if your parent or guardian was registered to vote in the UK, as long as you left the UK no more than 15 years ago.

Voting as a student

If you are voting as a student, you may be able to register to both your home and university addresses.

It is a criminal offence to vote twice in a UK general election.

Even if you are registered in two areas, at home and at university, you can only vote once at a general election.

However, if your home and university addresses are in two different local authority areas, you can vote in local elections in both.

If you haven't already registered, or have recently moved house, visit the 'register to vote' website here.

 

Once registered there are many ways you can vote. These include in person at a polling station, by post or by proxy.

Vote in person at a polling station

Most people vote in person at a polling station. You can find out where your nearest polling station is by checking the information printed on your poll card.

Polling stations are open from 7am and close at 10pm. When you go to the polling station you will need to give your name and address to the relevant staff member who will check you are registered to vote.

You do not need your poll card to vote at a polling station.

Please ensure you don’t take any photos inside the polling station as you might find yourself in breach of secrecy of the ballot requirements.

Postal vote

If you are registered to vote but unable to vote in person on the day of the election (eg if you’re away from home or you’re abroad), you can apply for a postal vote.

You can apply for a postal vote or cancel your postal vote up to 11 working days before the election. Postal votes can be done on a temporary or permanent basis.

If you live abroad and are registered, you can apply for a postal vote but you need to make sure you have time to receive and return your ballot papers on polling day.

Apply for a postal vote

Please download the postal vote form from the Electoral Commission website. Once complete, you can send it to us by email elections.office@havant.gov.uk or by post.

Electoral Services, Havant Borough Council, Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, Havant, PO9 2AX.

Proxy vote

If you’re unable to vote in person you can ask someone to vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy vote.

You can apply for a proxy vote if:

• You are unable to go to the polling station for one particular election, for example, if you are away on holiday
• You have a physical condition that means you cannot go to the polling station on election day
• Your employment means that you cannot go to the polling station on election day
• Your attendance on an educational course means that you cannot go to the polling station on election day
• You are a British citizen living overseas
• You are a crown servant or a member of Her Majesty's Armed Forces

There are different forms depending on the reason that you need a proxy vote. If you live abroad and are registered, you can also apply for a proxy vote.

Apply for a proxy vote

Please download the proxy vote form from the Electoral Commission website. Once complete, you can send it to us by email elections.office@havant.gov.uk or by post.

Electoral Services, Havant Borough Council, Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, Havant, PO9 2AX.

This year, to be able to vote in person at a polling station you will be required to show an official form of photographic identification (ID).

Elections Act 2022 - What you need to know

The UK Government has implemented significant changes to the current electoral system. The Elections Act 2022 outlines several measures which will affect the way that you vote and how we conduct elections.

One of the biggest changes will be the requirement for individuals to show photographic identification (such as a passport or driving licence) when they vote at a polling station.  

The sections below provide a summary of what we know so far. Further information is due to be published throughout 2023 and this page will be updated when we know more. The first changes will come into force for the borough elections on Thursday 4 May 2023.

You can find out more about the Elections Act 2022 by visiting the UK Government website. 

 

Upcoming changes

From May 2023 you will be required to show an official form of photographic identification (ID) when you vote in person at a polling station, a list of acceptable ID documents is included below.

If you own an accepted form of photographic ID but it has expired it can still be used, as long as the photograph is still a good likeness of you.

If you do not have any of the accepted forms of ID you will be able to apply online for a free Voter Authority Certificate – this is a photographic identity document specifically for the purpose of voting. Please use the following link:

https://voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk/

If you need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, make sure you do so in good time ahead of it being required at the polling station.

You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate at any point, even before an election has been called but the deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for elections held on Thursday 4 May 2023 is Tuesday 25 April 2023.

 

Acceptable forms of ID will include:

• A passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
• A driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or an EEA state
• A biometric immigration document
• An identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• A Blue Badge
• A national identity card issued by an EEA state
• An Older Person’s Bus Pass
• A Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
• An Oyster 60+ Card
• A Freedom Pass

 

Accessibility at Polling Stations

The new law will make it easier for voters with disabilities to vote. The changes will be in place for the May 2023 elections. Voters with disabilities will be given extra support at polling stations and proposals will allow anyone over the age of 18 to act as a companion for a voter with a disability.

Advice on how you can vote, including the new requirement to show photo identification.

To vote in the local elections, you need to be registered. You can register online at www.gov.uk/registertovote or by coming into the Plaza to use one of the public computers.

For the first time in May 2023, voters will be required to show photo ID when voting at a polling station. This new requirement will apply for the local elections taking place in Havant on Thursday 4 May 2023.

If you wear a face covering, you will be asked to remove it to check your photo ID is a true likeness. Don’t worry, we have privacy screens available in all polling stations and a female member of staff will assist you. Alternatively, if you would prefer not to go to a polling station to vote, you can apply for a postal or proxy vote.

You do not need photo ID to apply to vote by post or proxy.  However, the person you trust and appoint to vote on your behalf as a proxy will need to show photo ID.

We have put together a list of links to help you as a voter understand the process.

Tailored resources to support people who are likely to need support to prepare for the new Voter ID requirement:

• If you have Learning Disabilities or Autism MyVoteMyVoice.org.uk
• Gypsy and Traveller Community
• Older People Advice
• People Experiencing Homelessness
• Registered to Vote Anonymously
• Trans and Non-Binary People
• Easy Read
• Download Voter Booklet (Plain Text) (visually impaired)
• Download Voter Booklet (Braille)
• Download Voter Booklet (Audio)

 

Changes after 4 May 2023

Absent Voting

• Absent voting allows you to vote in an election if you cannot get to the polling station. There are currently two types of absent voting – postal voting and proxy voting. You can find out more about postal voting and proxy voting by visiting our website pages. 

Changes to absent voting

• If you are applying to vote by post or by proxy, you will be asked to provide proof of your identity. A new application service will be set up which allows you to apply for a postal or proxy vote, and verify your identity, online.
• The existing secrecy requirements will be extended to postal and proxy votes. You can find out more about the secrecy requirements on the Electoral Commission website. 
• We expect that the changes below will come into force after the Borough elections and County by-election in May 2023

Postal Voting

• Currently when you vote by post you are required to refresh your signature every 5 years, this will be changing soon to every 3 years.
• If you hand in your postal vote at a polling station on the day of the election, you will only be allowed to hand in a maximum of 6 postal votes. Political parties and campaigners will be prevented from handing in postal votes.

Proxy Voting

• You will only be able to act as a proxy for a maximum of 4 people. Of these 4, the maximum number who can be ‘domestic electors’ (voters living in the UK) is 2.

 

Rights of EU citizens for voting and candidacy

EU citizens will no longer automatically be entitled to register, vote or stand for election. Two groups of EU citizens will keep these rights;
 

• Qualifying EU citizens who come from countries which have reciprocal agreements with the UK (currently this is Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain)
• EU citizens with retained rights, who were living in the UK before 1 January 2021 (before the UK left the EU)

This change will apply to all local elections and referendums in England, all elections for council and combined authority mayors, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections. These changes are expected to take place by spring 2024.

Overseas electors

The 15-year limit on voting for British citizens living overseas is ending soon. Going forward any British citizen, who was previously registered to vote in the UK or who previously lived in the UK, will be able to register to vote regardless of how long they have lived abroad.

The renewal period for overseas electors will be changing from 1 to 3 years.

We expect that these changes will take place by May 2024. 

First past the post voting system

From May 2023 the voting system will be changing from a ‘supplementary vote system’ to a simple majority voting system, also known as ‘first past the post’.

In ‘first past the post’ voting you only vote for one candidate and the candidate with the most votes wins. Candidates no longer need to get a certain number of votes; they just need to get more than any other candidate.

The voting system will be changed in all elections for:

• local authority (council) mayors in England
• combined authority mayors
• Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales
• the London Mayor

Don't worry if you don't have ID, we are here to help!

Residents can find out who they can vote for in any upcoming election by visiting the 'who can I vote for?' website. 

Candidates standing in the election are encouraged to include information about themselves and what they stand for, to help residents make up their mind on who to vote for.

You can search for your nearest polling station ahead of any upcoming election by visiting the 'where do I vote?' website. You will also find this information on your poll card.

Notice of elections

Havant Borough Council – Notice of Election

Hampshire County Council – Notice of Election

 

Elections this year

Havant has a County Council by-election in Purbrook and Stakes South Division and Borough elections on Thursday 4 May 2023 in the following wards:

• Bedhampton
• Cowplain
• Emsworth
• Hart Plain
• Hayling East
• Hayling West
• Purbrook
• St. Faiths
• Stakes
• Waterloo

 

Voter ID requirement

The UK Government has implemented significant changes to the current electoral system. One of the biggest changes will be the requirement for individuals to show photographic identification (such as a passport or driving licence) when they vote at a polling station. These changes will be in place for the borough elections on Thursday 4 May. For more information - including accepted forms of photographic ID - visit here.

 

Key dates

The following statutory deadlines apply to these elections:

• Notice of Election – 27 March 2023
• Appointment of Election Agents  - 4pm on Tuesday 4 April
• Statement of Persons Nominated – 4pm on Wednesday 5 April
• Notice of Poll – Tuesday 25 April

Key deadlines regarding voting include:

• Last date to register for the elections – Monday 17 April
• Last date to apply for or change a Postal Vote – 5pm on Tuesday 18 April
• Last date to apply for a Proxy Vote  - 5pm on Tuesday 25 April

 

Notices

The following Notice of Vacancy for Purbrook and Stakes South Division has been presented:

By-Election Purbrook Stakes South (Havant) - Notice of Vacancy

 

Where is my polling station?

You can search for your polling station ahead of any upcoming election by visiting the 'where do I vote?' website. You will also find this information on your poll card.