Kirklees Council and WYCA Mayoral elections 2024 – all you need to know

Kirklees Council's local elections are taking place on Thursday 2 May and we have put together all the key dates and information you need ahead of Polling Day.

A third of all 69 seats are up for election with one seat in all of Kirklees' 23 wards going to the polls. Parish & Town Council by-elections are also taking place in Denby Dale - Clayton West ward and Holme Valley Parish - Upper Holme Valley ward, if contested, you may have a Parish/Town Council election in your area.

We will be announcing a list of all candidates standing in each district ward, Mayoral region and any contested Parish/Town Council areas no later than 8 April 2024.

Are you registered to vote?

In order to vote in May's local elections, you need to be registered to vote. The deadline to apply is Midnight on Tuesday 16 April 2024. Read more information, check if you're registered already or register to vote now on Kirklees Council's website.

You will need to bring ID to vote

Voters across the country will need to show photographic ID when voting at polling stations. Kirklees residents are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote on 2 May by checking they have an accepted form of ID.

Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK, EEA or Commonwealth drivers' licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person's bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

Information, including the full list of accepted ID, along with more information about the new requirement and details of how to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate can be found on the council's website. The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on 24 April 2024.

Want to vote by post?

If you don't want to or can't visit a Polling Station to vote this year, you can apply to vote by post www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote. The deadline to submit a completed application form to vote by post is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024.

Do you need somebody to vote on your behalf?

You can apply for somebody to vote on your behalf, also known as a proxy vote - www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.

The deadline to apply to vote by proxy is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024.

Steve Mawson, Returning Officer and Chief Executive of Kirklees Council, said:

"We are well prepared to deliver the elections on the 2 May and we are urging residents to be prepared for the elections and apply early for a voter certificate if needed. We want to make sure that everyone who is eligible and wants to vote can do so. Ensure that you're registered to vote and if not apply as soon as possible so you don't miss the deadline.

"We'll continue to update you as we approach Polling Day and we encourage everyone to use their right to vote."

New rules for postal voting

New rules for 2024 mean that your postal vote will be rejected if it is not returned correctly. It is important you post your postal vote back as soon as possible to ensure it is delivered in time.

The easiest way to return your postal vote is by posting it in a Royal Mail post box using the pre-paid envelope provided.

If you have missed the post, you can still hand it in at a polling station, or at High Street Buildings, 3-5 Albion Street, Huddersfield, before 10pm on polling day but you will be required to complete a form.

You can also hand deliver your own and no more than 5 other postal votes per election.

Campaigners can only hand in their own postal vote, and those of close relatives or people for whom they provide regular care.

For all details around postal votes visit www.kirklees.gov.uk/postalvoting.

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