Elections and Voting

The UK government is making changes to the UK electoral system. The Election Act contains measures that affect:

• elections and the way we vote
• campaigning and the rules on campaign spending and funding
• parliamentary oversight of the Electoral Commission

Voter ID

The UK Government has introduced a new requirement that voters will have to show an accepted form of photo ID to vote in a polling station. This requirement will apply for at the local elections taking place on 4 May 2023. 

For a list of the accepted forms of photo ID please refer to the Electoral Commissions website.

If you do not have an accepted form of ID, you can apply online a free Voter Authority Certificate.

If you know someone who requires a Voter Authority Certificate, but cannot apply online, please contact the Electoral Services office on 01923 278 369. Applications can be made by post or in person.

If applying for a voter authority certificate for an upcoming election, please make sure to apply by the deadline.

Support for people with a disability

From May 2023, there will be more support at polling stations for voters with disabilities.

Voters with a disability can be assisted in future by anyone over the age of 18 years old.

Postal Votes

From October 2023, there will be a number of changes to postal voting for both voters and parties and campaigners.

It will also be possible to apply for a postal vote online.

If you apply to vote by post it is expected that you will need to:

• include proof of identity when applying
• make a new application every three years

You'll only be allowed to hand in postal votes at a polling station for:

• yourself
• your family members
• persons for whom you are a designated carer
• no more than six people in total

Political parties and campaigners will be banned from handling voters' postal votes.

Full details are still to be set out in law.  For further details on the proposed changes please see:

Electoral Commission: Postal Votes

Proxy Votes

From October 2023 there will be a limit to how many people a voter can act as a proxy for.

It will also be possible to apply for some types of proxy vote online. Voters will not be able to apply online if their application needs attesting or if applying for an emergency proxy vote.

If you wish to appoint somebody to vote for you (proxy vote) it is expected that you will need to:

• include proof of identity when applying
• make a new application every three years

You'll only be allowed to act as proxy for up to four people of whom no more than two can be based in the UK.

Full details of this requirement are still to be set out in law.  For further details on the proposed changes please see:

Electoral Commission: Proxy Votes

British citizens who live abroad

There is currently a 15-year limit for eligible overseas citizens. The government is proposing to change this so that eligible British citizens can register and vote at UK Parliamentary elections if:

• living abroad and previously lived in the UK
• previously been registered to vote in the UK

It's proposed that overseas voters will be able to register using an address either:

• where they were previously registered; or
• where they were last resident, even if they had not registered to vote while there

This change is expected to be in place for elections from May 2024. For further information please see:

Electoral Commission: Overseas Voting

EU citizens who live in the UK

The government is proposing the following changes:

EU citizens who were living in the UK before 1 January 2021 will keep their right to register, vote and stand in elections.

Those who have arrived in the UK since 1 January 2021 would have these rights only if they are citizens of an EU country with which the UK has agreed the same rights for UK citizens. This is known as a 'reciprocal arrangement'.

This change is expected to be in place for elections from May 2024. For further information please see:

Electoral Commission: EU Citizens changes

Elected Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections

From May 2024, it is expected that Watford’s Elected Mayor and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire will be elected using a 'first past the post' voting system.

That means the candidate who gets the most votes is the winner. You'll no longer be asked to make a second choice on the ballot paper.

You can find full details of all proposed legislation changes at:

• Legislation: Elections Act 2022
• GOV.UK: Voter identification at polling stations and the new Voter Card