Registered voters are being reminded that they will need a photo ID to vote in the forthcoming Ventnor by-election following new legislation introduced earlier this year. A by-election is to be held on 21st December with 3 candidates vying for your vote; Ed Blake (Conservative), Steve Cooper (Labour) and Ray Harrington-Vail (Lib Dem). Voters may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable, including the following:
- Passport.
- Driving licence (including provisional licence).
- Blue badge.
- Certain concessionary travel cards (such as an Older Person’s Bus Pass or an Oyster 60+ card).
- Identity card with Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) mark.
- Biometric Immigration document.
- Defence identity card.
- Certain national identity cards.
Those without photographic ID, can apply for a free ‘Voter Authority Certificate’ and the deadline for applications in this election is 13th December. Full details can be found on the Council’s photographic voter ID page. Claire Shand, Returning Officer, said:
“In order to vote in person, people will need to be registered to vote and to bring appropriate photographic identification with them on the day. “The need for photo ID is new and we want to make sure that people are aware of the change and prepared, so that the process of voting in this by-election is as easy as possible.”
The last date to register as an elector is Tuesday 5th December 2023. The last date to register as a Postal Voter is Wednesday 6th December 2023. The last date to register for a Proxy Vote is 17:00 on Wednesday 13th December 2023, and this can be done via the Council’s Proxy votes page .
