Information for voters

Key information for elections including the new photo ID requirements

This year, the following elections will be taking place on Thursday 2 May:

Parish Council elections for Bishopstoke, Botley and Hamble-le-Rice are uncontested.

If you are registered to vote by post, you will receive:

  • a combined postal vote pack containing a YELLOW coloured ballot paper for the Police & Crime Commissioner  election, and a GREY coloured ballot paper for the Borough election, except electors in West End who will only receive a YELLOW coloured ballot paper.

Photo ID required to vote at polling stations


The UK Government has introduced a new requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station. Please make sure you take a suitable form of photo ID with you. The most commonly used ID include:

  • Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
  • Photographic driver’s licence issued by the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (including provisional)
  • European Economic Area (EEA) photographic ID Card
  • UK Biometric Residence Permit
  • Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (PASS card)*
  • Blue Badge
  • Oyster 60+ Card
  • Concessionary travel pass funded by HM Government or local authority (such as Hampshire County Council Bus Pass; Disabled Person's Bus Pass, Welsh or Northern Ireland travel card).

Only original documents are accepted; scanned images or copies will not be accepted however expired documents are accepted if the photo is still a current likeness.

If you don't have an accepted form of photo ID

If you do not have any of the accepted photo ID, or your ID no longer looks like you, you will need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. This is a free photographic identification document specifically for the purposes of voting. You must be registered to vote to use this service.

Please note, you do not need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate if you are voting by post. Identification is only required if you intend to vote in person at a polling station.

Voters who do not produce a Voter Authority Certificates, or valid ID will not be allowed to vote on the day.

Your new look poll card will be issued in good time for the election and will arrive in an envelope addressed to you. Acceptable forms of identification will be listed on your poll card.

Accessibility at polling stations

If you are a disabled voter or require additional help, we offer a range of support to enable you to vote independently or with assistance.

Are you registered to vote?

To be able to vote in these elections, you must be:

  • registered to vote;
  • have suitable photo ID (see accepted forms of ID)
  • 18 or over on 2 May 2024; and
  • a UK, Irish, EU or qualifying Commonwealth citizen.

If you have registered to vote at your property and have not moved since, you do not need to re-register to vote.

If you have moved home recently and have not registered to vote at your new address, you must do so by 11:59pm on Tuesday 16 April to be able to vote in this election. 

Register to vote

Postal votes

If you would prefer to vote by post, please complete an online postal vote application form by 5pm on Wednesday 17 April.

Please apply as early as possible to allow time for it to be processed and for the postal vote to be issued. You do not need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate if you are voting by post.

If you are registered as a postal voter but would like to vote in person, you will need to cancel your postal vote before you can vote in person at a polling station.

Polling stations

There will be 69 polling stations open from 7am-10pm across the Borough and all registered voters will be issued with a poll card which will be in an envelope addressed to you. Please read the information contained on the new-look poll card for information about your polling station and the photo ID you will need to bring with you to vote on election day.

Health and safety measures at polling stations

The Returning Officer will closely follow any guidance issued nationally and we will put measures in place to ensure polling stations are safe places to vote.

Counting of votes

The verification (PCC, Borough and Parish) and counting of votes (Borough and Parish) will be held after the close of poll at 10pm on Thursday 2 May at Places Leisure Eastleigh, Passfield Avenue, Eastleigh SO50 9NL. The counting of votes for the PCC election will be on Friday 3 May at 11am. Entry to the Count will only be available to staff, candidates, and agents.

Other information