Derby City Council is urging Derbeians to head to the polls on 2 May and cast their votes in the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner and East Midlands Combined County Authority Mayoral elections.
This year, voters will have two ballot papers at polling stations or in their postal vote packs.
Residents will be able to vote for who should be the next Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner; the commissioner is responsible for policing across the county, ensuring the delivery of an effective and efficient police service.
Residents will also be able to vote for the first ever Mayor for the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA). The Mayor will lead the Combined County Authority and will work with local councils, business representatives and stakeholders. The Mayor will have the powers and responsibilities to make decisions across the whole EMCCA area. However, local authorities will still exist as individual councils providing local services.
If you are registered to vote and have applied for a postal vote, you should have received your postal vote pack by 18 April. If you haven’t had a postal vote pack by Friday 26 April, please contact the elections team by emailing elections@derby.gov.uk or calling 01332 640837. Deaf people can text 07774 333412.
Make sure you send the completed pack to us before 2 May. You can also drop off completed postal vote packs at your local polling station on 2 May if you don’t post in time.
If you are registered to vote but have not applied for a postal vote, you will have received a polling card in the post and you will need to go to your local polling station to vote.
Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day (Thursday 2 May).
Details of your polling station are available online and will also be on your polling card. Your polling station might have changed since the last elections so make sure to check your poll card for the correct information.
You do not need to take your polling card with you, but it will speed things up at the polling station if you do. Pencils will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own pen or pencil to use.
Before heading to the polling station, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got an accepted form of photo ID. Most voters will already have an accepted form of photo ID that they can use, but it’s important that you double check the list of eligible forms of ID in advance to make sure that you don’t miss out on your chance to vote.
Don’t have anything which is on the list of eligible ID? Don’t worry, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. This is a form of ID issued by the Council, which will allow you to vote. It’s free to and easy to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate either on the Government website or by contacting our helpline on 01332 640837 by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April. Deaf people can text 07774 333 412. You should only apply if you don’t already have an accepted form of ID.
Once the polls close at 10pm on Thursday 2 May, all the ballot boxes will be taken to Derby Arena, where the votes will be counted on Friday 3 May.
If you’re not able to get down to a polling station to vote, or can’t send a postal vote, you can nominate someone else to vote on your behalf – this is called a proxy vote. Details of how to do this are available on our website. You’ll need to have nominated a proxy by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.
Emily Feenan, Electoral Registration Officer for Derby City Council said:
When I say that every vote matters, I really do mean it – in a previous local election, a seat was won by just one vote. This year, voters will be electing the first ever East Midlands Mayor and their Police and Crime Commissioner. These elected representatives will be leading and shaping services across the region so your vote, is your voice on how you’d like those services delivered. I’d urge you to mark the date in your diary, make sure you have your ID ready, and get out to vote!
For further information on elections visit our website.