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VOTE 2025
On Thursday 1 May 2025, local and mayoral elections will take place in many parts of England.
You can find out whether there is an election in your area, and who the candidates are, using this page from the BBC.
If you want your voice to be heard in our democracy, you must vote. We know that our political system has serious flaws, but voting is an important part of changing that.
Register to vote
You need to be registered to vote before voting.
You must register to vote every time you move house.
Registering to vote is simple.
All you need is a couple of minutes and your National Insurance number.
The deadline to register for May’s elections has now passed, but you can still register now to be ready for future elections.
Click on the link below to register to vote.
Vote by post
Anyone can choose to vote by post rather than going to the polling station.
You don’t need to give a reason.
You do not need photo ID to vote by post.
The deadline to apply for a postal vote for May’s elections has now passed.
You can apply now to get a postal vote for future elections.
The link below will take you to the application.
Bring photo ID
Voters will need to show photo ID at polling stations.
This applies to all the elections in England, Police and Crime Commissioner elections in Wales, and the whole of the UK for general elections.
Accepted photo ID includes a Passport, Driving Licence, Older Person’s Bus Pass, and more. The full list of accepted ID is available here.
Or you can apply for free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) by clicking below. You’ll need to apply by 5pm on 23 April to get a VAC for the May elections.
Over five millions voters have lost their vote in these local elections.
Elections are being cancelled in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Thurrock, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Democracy should not be put on the back burner like this.
Voters MUST have a say in who runs their local areas, especially when councillors are making major decisions about merging authorities.
Please sign our letter to Angela Rayner by clicking below.