CEREDIGION residents must take photo ID when they vote in the forthcoming May elections.

On May 2, 2024, the first elections will be held after the rule of needing photo ID to be able to vote was brought in.

The election is for the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner (the deadline to register to vote in the election is midnight on Tuesday, April 16 which can be done at www.ceredigion.gov.uk/your-council/voting-elections/register-to-vote).

When going to vote, residents in Ceredigion – and across Wales – will need to take one of the following accepted forms of ID with them to the polling station:

  • Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA status or a Commonwealth country.
  • Photographic driver’s licence issued by the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state or a Commonwealth country.
  • European Economic Area (EEA) photographic ID card.
  • An identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS card) hologram.
  • A blue badge.
  • Older Person’s Bus Pass.
  • Disabled Person’s Bus Pass.
  • Oyster 60+ card.

Voters can use an expired photo ID if they are still recognisable from the photo. If a resident does not have a form of accepted ID, they can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, which must be done before 5pm on Wednesday, April 24 to ensure it arrives in time for the May 2 election. This can be applied for at https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.

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Anyone who does not wish to vote in person can register for a postal vote before 5pm on Wednesday, April 17, or before 5pm on Wednesday, April 24 to vote by proxy. This can be done at https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/your-council/voting-elections/voting-in-uk-parliamentary-and-police-and-crime-commissioner-elections/

Eifion Evans, the returning officer for Ceredigion County Council, said: “We don’t want anyone to risk losing their right to vote here in Ceredigion so I’m encouraging our residents to familiarise themselves with the changes that the voter ID requirement brings, including what type of ID is accepted.

“Residents who do not have a suitable form of ID can apply for the Voter Authority Certificate online or by getting in touch with our electoral services team. This change will come into effect for the Police and Crime Commissioner election this May.”

Alongside the ID changes, there are also changes to some of the polling stations which are:

  • Salvation Army will move to Canolfan Morlan, Aberystwyth
  • Llanwnnen Church Hall will move to Ysgol Cwrtnewydd
  • Betws Ifan Community Hall will move to Beulah Chapel Vestry
  • Bryngwyn Chapel Vestry will move to Beulah Chapel Vestry
  • Llandygwydd Church Hall will move to Beulah Chapel Vestry
  • Llangybi Hall will move to Community Centre at Ysgol y Dderi, Llangybi
  • Neuadd y Paith will move to Llanfarian Village Hall
  • Llwyncelyn Chapel Vestry will move to Llwyncelyn Hall
  • Canolfan y Dyffryn will move to Neuadd Aberporth

Anyone with any questions can contact Ceredigion’s electoral service on 01545 572032, email electoralservices@ceredigion.gov.uk or visit https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/your-council/voting-elections.