First time voters urged to prepare for May elections

Sefton Council is encouraging young people across the Borough who have just turned 18 not to miss out on their first chance to vote.

First-time voters and everyone else wanting to cast their vote at a polling station in Mays local elections will be required to show valid photographic identification following new legislation via the Elections Act 2022.

If they have them, younger people can use a driving licence or passport as photo ID at a polling station but if they don’t have these or one of the other accepted documents, they can get a free Voter Authority Certificate online.

Voters who do not want to vote in person at a polling station can apply to cast their vote by post.

Information on what is required and how to apply, along with details of registering to vote and getting a postal vote can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/voterid.

To help ensure everyone is aware of the new requirements and encourage them to exercise their democratic right to vote, Sefton Council is running a Borough-wide advertising dubbed ‘IDeal Time’ on high streets and public transport.

Cllr Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Resources said: “We want to ensure first-time voters prepare now to ensure they don’t miss out.

“That’s why we are running our high-profile IDeal Time campaign to highlight what they need to do and by when they need to do it.

“Anyone without a valid photo ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate up to six working days before the elections on Thursday, May 4th.

“And the cut-off date for registering to vote is Thursday April 13th, and the deadline for receipt of all postal vote applications is Tuesday, April 18th.”

Passports, driving licences and parking Blue Badges, along with older and disabled people’s bus passes are among the types of photo ID people can show to be allowed to vote under the Election Act 2022.

Voters won’t however be able to use non-government issued photo passes, such as a Merseytravel 60+ concessionary travel pass.

Cllr Lappin continued: “Our teams are already working extremely hard to ensure everything is in place to meet the new requirements, but this is the time for voters across Sefton to make sure they are prepared too so we are not forced to turn anyone away on May 4th.”

For more information about the upcoming elections and rule changes please visit www.sefton.gov.uk/elections .