Why Vote?
If you are interested in your local area and the community and
also have views on how things should be done then it is important
for you to use your vote and have your say - every vote counts!
Who can Vote?
To vote in elections in Purbeck you must be 18 or over and
either a British citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or
for local elections, a citizen of a Member State of the European
Union.
Member States of the European Union are:-
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Citizens of Member States of the EU can also apply separately to
vote in European Parliamentary Elections from the UK, however this
must be done annually.
You must also be included on the current Register of
Electors.
How to Vote
If your name is included on the Register of Electors, you will be sent a
poll card a few weeks before an election. The poll card will
tell you when you need to make your vote and where you need to go
to make your vote. There are three ways in which you can
vote:-
- In person at a polling station
- By Post
- By Proxy
Voting in Person
Take your poll card with you when you go to vote. Although
you do not require your poll card to vote in person, it will speed
up the process and assist the polling staff when checking your
details.
Once your details have been checked, the poll clerk will issue
you with a ballot paper stating:-
- The names of all candidates standing
- The party (if any) the candidates
represent
- How many candidates you can vote for
If you need help with your ballot paper, the polling station
staff are there to help you. Once you have taken your ballot
paper to one of the polling booths, you will need to:-
- For the County Council election - put a
cross next to the name of the candidate you wish to vote for (Do
not write anything else on your ballot paper otherwise your vote
may not be counted)
- For the European election - a party list
proportional representation voting system is used and there will be
instructions on how to cast your vote in the polling station
- Fold the ballot paper to hide your
vote
- Put it in the sealed ballot box
Voters with Disabilities
Every effort is made to ensure that all polling stations are
accessible to voters with disabilities. Arrangements have
been made to provide assistance for you, such as:-
- Wheelchair access
- Assistance from a companion
- Large print ballot papers
- A "Selector" (This is a specially
designed device to enable visually impaired voters to mark
the ballot paper independently. A "Selector" will be
available at all polling stations. If you wish to make use of
this device, please make it clear to polling staff when you receive
your ballot paper and they will explain to you how to use it).
Voting by Post
You do not need a reason to apply for a postal vote and a postal
voting arrangement can be set up by completing an application
form.
Postal Vote Application Form
A postal vote can be arranged for all elections in the future,
for a specific period or for just one particular election.
What will I receive by Post?
You will be sent a postal ballot pack about 7 working days
before an election. The postal pack will contain the
following documentation:-
- Postal Vote Statement - This will
include your personal identifiers (date of birth and signature)
which will be verified against the Electoral Registration Officer's
database when postal votes are opened.
- Ballot Paper - This includes the details of
the Candidates/Political Parties at the election and the number of
Candidates/Parties you may vote for
- Ballot Paper Envelope A - You must put the
ballot paper in this envelope once it has been completed
- Return Envelope B - You must put
the Postal Vote Statement and the sealed Ballot
Paper Envelope A into this prepaid envelope addressed to the
Returning Officer. If you are returning the envelope from
overseas you must affix the correct postage.
The Return Envelope B and its contents must be received by the
Returning Officer by the close of poll.
Voting by Proxy
A proxy voting arrangement is when an elector has appointed
another elector to vote on their behalf either at the alloted
polling station or by post (postal proxy).
If you cannot get to your polling station to vote in person and
are unable or unwilling to receive your ballot paper by post, you
may appoint a person to vote on your behalf. As with a postal
voting arrangement a proxy can be set up for all furture
elections, for a specific period or for a particular election
only.
Unlike the postal voting application form the proxy
application form will ask you to give a reason for the proxy vote
and may also require you to have your application form supported by
a qualfied person. Please read the notes carefully on the
application form to ensure the form is completed correctly and can
be processed quickly.
An application to vote by proxy must be received by the
Returning Officer at least 6 working days before an election.
Proxy Vote Application Form
Links:-
Contact Details:-
For further information about democracy and
elections, please contact
Peter Aston, Principal Democratic Services Officer,
Tel. 01929 557221, email electoralservices@purbeck-dc.gov.uk
or
Leigh Johnson, Electoral Services Officer, Tel. 01929
557219, email electoralservices@purbeck-dc.gov.uk