A district by-election in Painswick and Upton will be held on Wednesday 17 May 2023 following the resignation of Stroud District Councillor Jason Bullingham.
Voters in Painswick and Upton will go the polls on Wednesday 17 May 2023 and will be required to present voter ID for the first time in order to cast their vote.
The Notice of Election was published on Thursday 6 April 2023 and the period for potential candidates to submit their nomination papers opened at 9am on Tuesday, 11 April 2023 and will close at 4.00pm on Tuesday 18 April 2023.
Nomination papers must be hand delivered to the council offices at Ebley Mill between 9am – 4pm Monday – Friday.
Stroud District Council is now calling for residents in the area to ensure they are registered to vote so that they can take part in the by-election. In order to vote in this by-election, electors of Painswick and Upton must be registered by midnight on Thursday 27 April 2023. Residents can register to vote by calling 01453 766321 or by going online to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote with their national insurance number.
The UK government has introduced a requirement for registered electors to show photo ID when voting at a polling station. Electors of Painswick and Upton will be the first electors in the Stroud district who will be required to present a government approved photo ID document at the polling station in order to be issued a ballot paper.
The most common forms of photo ID are permitted e.g., photo driving licence, passport, bus pass, student PASS cards and some concessionary travel cards. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo. Further details and a full list of acceptable forms of ID are included on the Council’s website at https://www.stroud.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections/voter-id
If an elector does not have an accepted form of photo ID, they can apply free- of-charge for a Voter Authority Certificate. To apply, go online at https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate and complete a paper application from our website or book an appointment to have a photo and complete an application at the district council offices by calling 01453 766321. The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for this by-election is 5pm, Tuesday 9 May 2023.
Kathy O’Leary, Returning Officer for Stroud District Council, said:
“With 5 weeks until polling day, make sure you’re ready for the by-election on Wednesday 17 May 2023. Check that you’ve got an accepted form of photo ID and remember to bring it with you to the polling station on polling day.
“Taking part in local democracy is important and I would encourage all residents of the Painswick and Upton District ward to ensure they are registered to vote and that they have appropriate photo ID to be able to cast their vote. Residents who don’t have photo ID will need to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate, postal or proxy vote as soon as possible so they don’t miss out on their chance to vote.”
How to vote
There are three ways of voting:
• In person – between 7am – 10pm on Wednesday 17 May 2023 at your local polling station (electors will be required to bring photo ID to vote). Poll cards will be sent around Monday 17 April 2023 to any elector who is registered to vote in this election.
• By post – to vote by post, an elector will need to complete an application form and send it to the Electoral Registration Officer to arrive by 5pm on Friday 28 April 2023. Existing postal voters will receive a poll card confirming this and should receive their postal votes approximately 15 days before polling day.
• By proxy – to vote by proxy (elector appoints someone they trust to vote on their behalf at the polling station), electors will need to complete an application form and send it to the Electoral Registration Officer to arrive by 5pm on Tuesday 9 May 2023. Existing proxy voters you will receive a poll card confirming this. Proxy voters will be required to bring photo ID to the polling station to vote.
Postal and proxy vote application forms are available from Stroud District Council’s website or electors can email elections@stroud.gov.uk or phone 01453 766321 or to request an application form.
