May 2023 Election FAQs

To vote in these elections you must be registered.

You can choose to vote:

• In person at a polling station
• By post
• By proxy (appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf, you will be required to give a reason when applying)

**Remember, if voting on person at a polling station you will need valid photo ID, please see our Voter ID page.

You can find out if you are registered by contacting us. We recommend that if there is any doubt as to whether or not you are registered, please check with us before completing a new registration application.

Our offices are open from 9am to 5.15pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 5pm on a Friday. We can confirm over the phone or via email.

Further information about registering can be found on our FAQ page.

If you would like to vote by post or proxy, you must apply for this type of vote.

To apply to vote by post you need to download, print and fill in a postal vote application form, which you can request by email to elections@hertsmere.gov.uk.

If you’re thinking about voting by post, you can apply to do this now. This will make sure your application is processed early and your postal vote can be sent to you sooner, once the candidates for the elections are confirmed.

If you aren't able to cast your vote in person, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote for you. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is often referred to as your proxy. The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote, or can apply to vote for you by post.

Please send completed postal and proxy applications either by email to elections@hertsmere.gov.uk or by post to Electoral Services, Hertsmere Borough Council, Civic Offices, Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Herts, WD6 1WA.

Postal votes are dispatched as soon as possible, but cannot be sent until after nominations have closed and ballot papers have been produced. Dispatch dates will vary.

• If you applied in time to be included in the 1 April register update, your postal vote will likely be part of the first batch of postal votes sent out and you should receive it around two weeks before the poll.

• Otherwise you will be added to one of the various register updates that are published throughout the election period. We will send you a postal vote as soon as you are added to the register through one of those updates.
  
  

If it hasn’t arrived by 27 April 2023 or you have lost it, you can get a replacement ballot paper in person from your local elections office from 27 April, up until 5pm on polling day. You will need identification.

If you have spoilt your ballot paper or postal voting statement, you can get a replacement until 5pm on polling day. Do not destroy or throw away your postal ballot papers. You will need to return them before you can get a replacement.

• Your poll card should tell you the location of your polling station.
• Alternatively, contact the elections office or:

• • You can find a list of each polling station by Ward on our Elections Notice page.
  • We also have a Polling Station finder on our Hertsmere's Map Hub.

You can find a list of each polling station by Ward on our Elections Notice page.

We also have a Polling Station finder on our Hertsmere's Map Hub.

• at a polling station
• by post
• by appointing a proxy to vote on your behalf.

Each polling station is different but most are accessible for all voters. You can obtain more details about your polling station from the elections office. Staff will be trained and have access to equipment to assist all electors to vote independently or with the assistance of polling station staff.

Disabled/blind/visually impaired electors may also bring a companion to assist them to vote at the polling station.

If they have any specific access needs or requirements, please speak to our elections office who will be able to tell you about the accessibility and equipment available at their polling station and also consider requests for any other equipment that the voter may  need.  

Further information can be found on our Accessibility at the Polling Station page.

Poll cards will be hand delivered between Saturday 18 March and Sunday 26 March.

You do not need your poll card to vote, however If you have not received a poll card after Sunday 26 March please call us so that we can check you are registered.

If your household has received a lilac ‘Empty Property’ poll card, this means that we do not have anyone registered to vote at the property and if you wish to vote you should register by the deadline of 11.59pm on 17 April 2023. Any applications received after this date will still be added to the register but you will not be able to vote in these elections.

Common forms of accepted photographic ID include:

• A UK, EEA, or Commonwealth passport (including an Irish Passport Card)
• A UK or EEA photocard driving licence
• A blue badge
• A relevant concessionary travel card (e.g. Older Person’s Bus Pass)
• A proof of age card bearing a PASS hologram
• A biometric immigration document
• A national identity card issued by an EEA state
• A Voter Authority Certificate
• An Anonymous Elector’s Document

A more comprehensive list can be found on our Voter ID page.

• You need to meet certain qualifying criteria to stand as a candidate, and must not be disqualified.
• You will also need to submit a set of nomination papers, including the signatures of two supporters registered to vote in the Borough Ward to the local Returning Officer by the nomination deadline (by 4pm on  4 April 2023).
  
  

Candidates’ guidance and nomination papers can be found on the Electoral Commission website.

Further information about becoming a Hertsmere Councillor or by contacting Democratic Services on 020 8207 2277 or email: democratic.services@hertsmere.gov.uk

• You need to meet certain qualifying criteria to stand as a candidate, and must not be disqualified.
• You will also need to submit a set of nomination papers, including the signatures of two supporters registered to vote in the  electoral area to the local Returning Officer by the nomination deadline (by 4pm on 4 April 2023).
  
  

Candidates’ guidance and nomination papers can be found on the Electoral Commission website.

To find out more about being a Parish Councillor and what it involves you can contact them directly. Please find information on a Parish Council webpage. 

The statement of persons nominated will be published by 4pm on Wednesday 5 April and this will list who is standing and in which area.

In most cases you can contact the candidates or their agent directly. Most candidates/parties post leaflets through letter boxes during election time, put up posters, hold meetings or have websites and social media with information.

The count for the borough elections will take place immediately after the close of poll on Thursday 4 May. Election results will be published on our social media platforms  immediately following the declaration of each ward.

The count for the Town council and Parishes will take place on Friday 5 May. Election results will be published on our social media channels immediately following the declaration of each Town Council or parish area/ward.

Please see our contact us page for information on our social media channels.

The declarations for all elections will be published on the Hertsmere website and displayed at the Civic Offices from Friday 5 May.

If you are aged 18+ and can commit to working on Thursday 4 May between 6am to 11pm please visit our dedicated webpage that provides job descriptions and details of how to apply.  No experience is necessary as full training will be given. 

To find out about working at an election, please see our Working for Electoral Services page.

The Electoral Commission is an independent body, not part of government, that regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections and electoral registration. Further information can be found on the Electoral Commission website or by calling 0800 3 280 280.