Newark and Sherwood District Council chief executive explains how council elections will differ

On thursday May 4, elections will be taking place across the country to decide the political leadership of 152 district and borough councils, 46 unitary councils, and 32 metropolitan districts.

Many town and parish councils are also going to the polls — it’s a big day in the election calendar!

For those of us who live in Newark and Sherwood, our votes will decide which councillors will represent us and who will make important decisions that impact on our everyday lives.

Election teams are working flat out on preparations. We turn up at a polling station and make our mark on a ballot paper. Or we vote by post. Hopefully, it’s an easy and perhaps even enjoyable experience. But behind the scenes, there are 507 candidates to liaise with; 43 separate elections that are being contested; 91 buildings to get ready; 435 staff to brief and train and more elections paperwork than you could possibly imagine.

This year things are even more complicated as it’s the first time that voters will need to produce photo ID to vote in a polling station. Not everyone has this of course and to date we’ve processed about 300 applications for something called a Voter Authority Certificate which you can apply for if you don’t have photo ID. Time is running out though — you have until 5pm on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, and can apply through this link www.voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk or by contacting the Electoral Commission on this number 0800 328 0280.

If you have photo ID, please remember to bring it with you to the polling station. We really don’t want to turn people away or for voters to have the inconvenience of having to go home and return later with their ID. It won’t matter how persuasive or frustrated you get – the law prevents us issuing a ballot paper to anyone who doesn’t have photo ID! You can find out which ID is acceptable through this link https://www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/photo-id-youll-need

So please do use your vote and have your say about the running of vital local services. You can check out the full lis of candidates through this link — www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/latest-news/2023/april/list-of-candidates/

— Writes John Robinson, chief executive, Newark and Sherwood District Council.