Poll Letters have started to drop through letterboxes ahead of the upcoming General Election.
The letters, which replace the old postcard sized Poll Card also give advice on getting your postal vote sorted if you need one- and the deadline is near.
The deadline for applying for a postal vote is 5pm this Wednesday.
With the election taking place at the start of the Edinburgh holiday many in West Lothian will already have made plans to be away.
The Poll Letter confirms the date of the election – Thursday 4 July 2024, where your polling place will be, or advises if you have registered for a postal or a proxy vote along with a reminder that you need an acceptable form of photo ID to vote in this election.
There are a number of options available to ensure you can still cast their vote even if you won’t be in the country come 4 July. But you don’t have too long left to ensure you have everything in place.
Firstly, you need to be registered to vote. Registering to vote will mean you are on the Electoral Register and will be able to attend a polling station and vote in person.
Anyone who is not registered to vote should visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or call the Lothian Electoral Registration Office on 0131 344 2500. Please note the deadline for voter registration is midnight on Tuesday 18 June.
Anyone who is registered to vote in this election can apply to vote by post. Applications for new postal votes (including postal proxy votes where someone else submits the postal vote on your behalf) or changes to postal vote details must be made by 5pm this Wednesday -19 June.
Applications for changes to existing postal or proxy votes must be made by 5pm on Wednesday 19 June.
You can now apply for a postal vote online at https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote…
The first day that a replacement for a lost or undelivered postal vote can be issued is Friday 28 June. If you will be away before that date then consider whether you wish to appoint a proxy instead.
A proxy vote is when you appoint a nominated person to vote on your behalf either in person or by post.
If you are already registered for a proxy vote but need to make changes to your details then this must be done by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.
Applications for new proxy votes (except for emergencies) must also be made by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.
Applications for emergency proxy votes can be made until 5pm on polling day.
You can now apply for a proxy vote online at https://www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote…
Applications for both postal and proxy votes can also be made to the Electoral Registration Officer at www.lothian-vjb.gov.uk or by sending complete applications to 17A South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 9FL or calling 0131 344 2500.
Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
