Date:
With just over one week remaining until voters in Woking Borough go to the polls on Thursday 6 May, Woking Borough Council is urging voters to get ready to vote.
This year’s local elections will give residents the opportunity to vote in three different elections to choose:
- Woking Borough councillors, who decide on services at a local level including planning, parks, leisure and community centres, recycling and waste collection, housing and public health.
- Surrey County councillors, who make decisions about public services across Surrey in areas such as social care, schools, roads and transport, public health and fire and rescue services.
- The Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, who oversees the local police force and ensures they are prioritising what matters to the local community.
To vote in the above local elections, eligible voters must be registered to vote at their current residential address.
Polling stations will be safe places to vote on Thursday 6 May. People voting in person are encouraged to keep themselves and others safe by:
- wearing a face covering over their nose and mouth
- sanitising their hands when entering and leaving the polling station
- maintaining a safe distance from other people
- bringing their own pen or pencil.
Voters should not attend the polling station if they have symptoms of Covid-19, or if they have been asked to self-isolate. Anyone who develops symptoms, or is asked to self-isolate shortly before polling day, has up to 5pm on polling day to apply for an emergency proxy vote. This allows them to nominate someone they trust to vote on their behalf.
Emera Chown, Electoral Services Manager for Woking Borough Council, said: “Your poll card will tell you where to find your polling station. Make sure you check the information on your polling card, as your polling station might have changed since the last elections. You do not need your poll card to vote, however, we encourage you to bring it with you to make the process quicker and more efficient.
“Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 6 May. Voters who have opted to vote by post must return their postal ballot pack by 10pm; they can hand it in at their polling station if they don’t have time to return it by post.”
Ailsa Irvine, Director of Electoral Administration and Guidance at the Electoral Commission, said: “If you are voting in person, make sure you remember to bring your face covering and a pen or pencil with you. At the polling station, help keep yourself and others safe by following the safety measures, including sanitising your hands and keeping a safe distance from others.
“If you are self-isolating or become unwell as a result of Covid-19, you don’t need to lose your vote. You will be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote so that someone you trust can vote on your behalf.”
For more information about the local elections, including how to apply for an emergency proxy vote, polling station details and search, and frequently asked questions, visit the council's elections webpages.