Wiltshire Council gearing up for general election

Following the announcement of the general election taking place on 4 July, Wiltshire Council is reminding residents of all the key information they need to know to have their say next month.

The key dates for the election are:

• People have until midnight on 18 June to register to vote if they're not already registered - GOV.UK: Register to vote (opens new window)
• People have until 5pm on 19 June to apply for a postal vote (postal vote packs sent out around 10 days before polling day) - GOV.UK: apply to vote by post (opens new window)
• People have until 5pm on 26 June to apply for a proxy vote (for someone to vote on their behalf) - GOV.UK: Apply to vote by proxy (opens new window)
• People have until 5pm on 26 June if they want to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (if they don't have photo ID) - GOV.UK: Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’) (opens new window)
• Polls are open on 4 July from 7am - 10pm
• Election results confirmed in the early hours of 5 July

Returning Officer for Wiltshire, Terence Herbert, said: A vote in the general election will directly influence who is responsible for making decisions that affect all our daily lives, so I strongly encourage everyone eligible to ensure they are registered.

Our advice for those wishing to vote by post is to apply as soon as possible, and for everyone going out to vote on election day itself to please remember to bring valid photo ID or I'm afraid you will be politely turned away.

My team will be working round the clock over the coming weeks to deliver a smooth election for the county and we look forward to welcoming people to the polls on 4 July.

Those who wish to vote by post are encouraged to apply to do so as quickly as possible. Those that apply will receive their postal vote packs around 10 days before the election. If people are going to be away at that time they may wish to consider applying for a proxy vote instead. For those not able to actually post their completed packs back, there is a limit on the number of postal vote packs that can be hand-delivered (e.g. to a polling station) - an elector can only submit their own and up to five others, and they will be required to fill in an additional form which will be provided to them on arrival. People can only hand-deliver their postal vote packs at County Hall's reception, or in the polling station on polling day (4 July) - those that post their packs directly into the post boxes at the council's main offices at Bourne Hill, County Hall or Monkton Park will have their votes rejected.

Anyone applying for a postal or proxy vote online will need their National Insurance number or an identity document such as a driving licence or passport as part of the application process.

This is the first general election that will require people to have photo ID to vote at polling stations. Accepted forms of photo ID include passports, photographic driving licences, biometric immigration documents, and certain concessionary travel passes. A comprehensive list can be found at The Electoral Commission: Accepted forms of photo ID (opens new window).

There have also been boundary changes since the last general election in 2019. The constituency people vote in may have changed since the Parliamentary Boundary Review, which comes into force for this election. Wiltshire is made up of five Parliamentary constituencies:

• Chippenham
• East Wiltshire
• Melksham and Devizes
• Salisbury
• South West Wiltshire

Part of a Wiltshire constituency will now be voting with the South Cotswold constituency, which is administered by Cotswold District Council. Part of a Swindon constituency will now be voting with the East Wiltshire constituency, which is administered by Wiltshire Council. People are asked to check their poll card carefully when they receive it to check if the constituency they vote in has changed and where they will be voting. People can see a map of the new constituencies at Boundary Commission for England - interactive map (opens new window).

Anyone who can't go online to complete a form can call Wiltshire Council's Elections Team on 0300 456 01 12 or email voting@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) and ask to be posted a paper form. People are asked to request their form to be posted well before the deadline.

More information can be found at General Election 2024