Residents in North Devon and Torridge are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote ahead of local elections on Thursday, 1 May.

The deadline to register to vote is 11.59pm on Friday, 11 April. Voters can quickly and easily register to vote online. Research shows that young people, students and those who have recently moved are less likely to be registered than others.

Voters have a range of options for casting their vote on the day, including voting in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Monday, 14 April, while the deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday, 23 April. 

Voters need to show photo ID if they intend to vote at a polling station. Types of accepted photo ID include passports and drivers' licences, as well as some concessionary travel passes such as an older persons' bus pass. The upcoming elections are the first in which a HM Armed Forces Veteran Card can be used as photo ID. Voters may use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo. 

If you do not have one of the accepted types of ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate ID online or by completing and submitting a paper form to your local authority. You must apply by 5pm on 23 April to be able to use the certificate on 1 May.

Deputy Returning Officer at Torridge District Council, Steve Hearse, said:  “Don’t lose your chance to have your say at the upcoming local elections. Registering to vote is a simple process that takes no more than five minutes and if you don't think you can make it to your polling station on the day, you can now register for a postal or proxy vote online without having to complete a paper form. 

"If you’re in doubt about whether you need to register to vote, or have questions about how to apply for a postal or proxy vote, or free ID, you can contact your local elections team."

Deputy Returning Officer at North Devon Council, Ken Miles, said: "It is important that those who want to vote in this year's local elections have an accepted form of photo ID. We are urging voters to understand what types of ID they can use, and how to apply for free ID if they need it. Checking now rather than later means you will be ready when it’s time to vote.

"Residents who do not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply for free ID either online or by completing a paper application form and sending this to their council's electoral services team."

You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate online on the Government website.

Voters in the North Devon Council area who do not have ID, wish to vote in person and apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, but are unable to do so, can arrange an appointment with the council's elections team to facilitate this by calling 01271 388277.

Voters in Torridge can apply Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm at Riverbank House, Chanters Road in Bideford. The elections team can also be contacted by calling 01237 428739.

Information about all voting options can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website. Alternatively people can stay up to date by visiting NDC's Elections page or Torridge's Elections page.