Voter ID pop ups across the borough

Throughout April Hertsmere Borough Council will be at locations around the borough talking about the need for voter ID at this year's local elections.

For the first time, due to a change in the law, residents will now need to show photo ID when voting at a polling station.

To ensure residents are aware of the new rules and know what they need to do ahead of polling day, our officers will be on hand to help people check their ID and sign up for a Voter Authority Certificate.

We will be at the following venues:

• Bushey Library, Sparrows Herne, Bushey, WD23 1FA: Saturday 8 April and Saturday 22 April between 10am and 2pm
• St Michael's & All Angels, Brook Road, Borehamwood, WD6 5EQ: Saturday 1 April from 10am till 2pm
• 96 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, WD6 1EB: Saturday 8 April between 10am and 2pm
• Oakmere Library, High Street, Potters Bar, EN6 5BZ: Saturday 1 April and Saturday 15 April from 10am till 2pm
• North Bushey Baptist Church, 218 Park Avenue, Bushey, WD23 2BD: Wednesday 5 April and Wednesday 19 April between 10am and 12pm

Come along and talk to us about the elections and the need for voter ID if you are going to vote at a polling station. We will be encouraging people to check they have an accepted form of photo ID, so they are ready to vote on 4 May. We'll have leaflets to take away that explain everything you need to know.

At the pop in sessions our team will be able to help you apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. It's free to apply, all you need to bring is your National Insurance number. You can still apply if you do not have a National Insurance number, but you will need to provide other documents to prove your identity, for example a birth certificate, bank statement and utility bill. We can take and upload your new picture at the sessions.

Sam Langford, Electoral Services Manager, said: "It's important for us to reach as many voters as possible. We have been visiting community groups across the borough to help spread the message, as well as running a social media campaign, but appreciate that not everyone is online. These roadshows provide another way to find out about the new rules or apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, if needed. We want to make sure that everyone who wants to vote on 4 May can do so."

At these events our officers will be focussing on the need for photo ID to vote at a polling station. But our team will also be there to chat about voter registration, other ways to vote, as well as help you apply for a Voter Authority Certificate if you do not have ID. The deadline to apply is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.

Sam added: "Local elections are an important opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who makes decisions about issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Hertsmere. If you have recently turned 18 or moved home, it is particularly important to make sure you are correctly registered to vote. If you are in doubt, you can check with us by contacting us on 020 8207 7481.

"If you are not registered to vote by 17 April, you will not be able to vote this May. Registering to vote only takes five minutes and can be done online at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote."

In addition to visiting community groups and a social media campaign, we have sent leaflets to every households throughout the borough with our Council Tax bills, as well as included information in our residents magazine - Hertsmere News - which has been delivered to every home in Hertsmere.

Polling takes place for borough and parish councils on Thursday 4 May 2023.

To find out more about elections please visit our election 2023 page or to find out what identification you need or how to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, please see our voter ID page.

Posted on Thursday 30th March 2023

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