By-election called for Shinfield Ward

Residents of Shinfield are being urged to check they are registered to vote ahead of a by-election, which will take place in December to fill a vacant seat on Wokingham Borough Council.

The election will be held on Thursday 5 December, with the candidates set to be confirmed on Monday 11 November, following the deadline for nominations on Friday 8 November.

Anyone who wishes to vote in this election must be registered. The deadline to register for this election is Tuesday 19 November. It only takes five minutes and you will be asked for your National Insurance number, but it is still possible to register without one.

Following national changes to elections and voting, residents are also required to bring suitable photo ID when they vote. Accepted forms of ID include:

• Passport
• Full or provisional driving licence
• Blue badge
• Certain concessionary travel cards, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card
• Identity card with Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) mark
• Biometric Immigration document
• Defence identity card
• Certain national identity cards

Expired ID will also be accepted as long as the photograph on the document still resembles a likeness of the elector. A full list of accepted forms of ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website, along with more information about how to apply.

If you do not have any of the approved forms of ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate in order to take part in the election. The deadline to apply is 5pm on Wednesday 27 November.

It is also possible to take part in this by-election as an absent voter. The deadline for receipt of postal vote applications is 5pm on Wednesday 20 November and for proxy vote applications is 5pm on Wednesday 27 November.

There have also been changes to postal and proxy voting, with postal vote applications now valid for three years instead of five. For security reasons, all postal and proxy vote applications must include a signature, date of birth and your National Insurance number, whether you are applying online or by post.

Anyone who would like to receive a paper application form for either a postal or proxy vote should contact electoralservices@wokingham.gov.uk

The votes will be counted overnight following the close of the polls at 10pm on 5 December.