Are you ready for Election Day?

You will be relieved to know that tomorrow is Election Day, meaning that we all get a well-deserved break from all the leaflets, door-knocks, news coverage, and endless social media content, before the much bigger ramp up to next year’s General Election.

Hopefully everyone now knows they will need to show valid photo ID when they vote. If this comes as news to you, then please check if you have the right ID here: https://openbritain.typeform.com/to/BBC4QUZ9

If you don’t have valid ID, then there is still time to do something about it:

Firstly, you can still apply for a free Citizen Card, which is a valid form of ID, by visiting their website and using the code FREEVOTERID . They are trying to turn these around within 24 hours, so there may still be time to get it before close of poll tomorrow.
Alternatively, if there is someone you trust to vote on your behalf (and who does have valid photo ID), you can apply for a proxy vote by completing this form and returning to Electoral Services at the Town Hall by 5pm tomorrow: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-04/Emergency%20proxy%20Photo%20ID%20GB.pdf

Polling stations will be open tomorrow from 7am to 10pm. You don’t need your polling card to vote, only your photo ID. In the very unlikely event that there is a queue at a polling station when polls close, anyone who is already in the queue at 10pm will still be permitted to vote.

Some polling stations have ‘tellers’ outside, these are members of political parties who will ask to see your polling card, this so we don’t bother anyone who has already voted by knocking your door on the day. Telling is in-line with election law, but they are not allowed to undertake any actual campaigning at or around polling stations.

To find your local polling station, go to: https://iwillvote.org.uk/

If you have a postal vote, but haven’t yet returned it, there may not how be time for it to arrive before close of poll. Instead, it can be handed in at the Town Hall before tomorrow morning or at any polling station in Crawley on the day (note: campaigners are banned from touching completed postal votes, so we won’t be able to hand these in for you). If you have lost your postal vote, you can still request another one any time before 5pm tomorrow by contacting Electoral Services.

To reach Electoral Services to raise this, or any other matter relating to the election, their hotline is (01293) 438645.

Many thanks for doing your bit for democracy,