Deadline to register to vote in local elections this evening

People wanting to vote in next month’s local elections are being reminded to register by the end of the day.

The deadline is fast approaching for voters to be able to cast their ballots on 2 May, when polls are taking place across the country.

Nearly 2,700 council seats in England are up for grabs across 107 local authorities, while 37 police and crime commissioners in England and Wales will also be chosen.

Votes are also taking place to elect some of the most high-profile regional mayors in the country, including Greater Manchester, London and the West Midlands.

People who have not yet registered to vote, or are not sure if they are eligible, have until 11.59pm on Tuesday to submit an application.

This can be done online on the government’s register to vote website.

You will need to give your name, date of birth, address, and national insurance number in order to register.

Around 44 million people are estimated to be eligible to vote in the elections, but as many as seven million people are either incorrectly registered or missing from the register entirely, according to the Electoral Commission.

Figures suggest there has been a last-minute surge of interest to register for next month’s locals – which could paint a telling picture of how the general election expected later this year will pan out.

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Some 43,037 applications were made on Monday, the highest for a single day so far this year and way above the previous peak of 31,496 on 2 April, government figures show.

An average of 26,968 applications to vote were made per day in the week to 15 April, up from 25,552 the previous week and 20,220 a fortnight ago.

Craig Westwood, director of communications at the Electoral Commission, said: “Today is the last day to register to vote ahead of the elections on 2 May.

“Only people who are registered can have their say on issues important to their local area, so don’t delay.

“Registering to vote is quick and easy – all you need is your name, date of birth, address, and national insurance number.

“Those previously on the register who have recently moved home or whose details have changed will need to register to vote again.”

New Voter ID Rules

All voters intending to cast a ballot in the elections on 2 May will not only need to be registered but also show a form of photo identification at the polling station.

Not all types of photo ID will be accepted, but a passport, driving licence or blue badge are valid.

Anyone without the correct identification will need to apply for a voter authority certificate by 5pm on 24 April, which can be done online.

Photo ID rules were brought in as part of the Elections Act 2022, with the government saying they were necessary to combat the risk of in-person voter fraud.

The measure has proved controversial, sparking accusations of gerrymandering and disenfranchisement.

The requirements were first enforced at last year’s local elections in England.

A report by the Electoral Commission suggested at least 14,000 people – 0.25% of voters – did not vote in those elections after being unable to show an accepted form of photo ID at their polling station.

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