On 2 May 2024, a number of elections will be held in the Lincoln area.
These include:
- Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner
- City of Lincoln Council local elections
- Lincolnshire County Council Park Division by-election (for those located in the Park Division)
Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are democratically elected every four years.
For City of Lincoln Council, 11 seats, one from each of the 11 wards in the city, will be up for election.
One seat from Park Division for Lincolnshire County Council in Lincoln will be up for election.
What you need to know:
Changes to polling stations
Voters for the 2024 elections should now have received their poll cards in the post.
There have been some changes to polling station locations across the city.
It is important to check your poll card or use the online polling station checker (www.lincoln.gov.uk/v/find-polling-station) to see whether your polling station location has changed.
Voter ID requirements
Voters are now required to show photographic identification at polling stations before they are given a ballot paper.
This will affect all voters across Lincoln who vote in person or by proxy, at all future elections.
Voters must bring a suitable form of photographic ID to their polling station. The most commonly used photo 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
- An identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (PASS card)*
- A Blue Badge
- Oyster 60+ Card
- A concessionary travel pass funded by HM Government or local authority**
** For example Lincolnshire County Council Bus Pass; Disabled Person's Bus Pass, Welsh or Northern Ireland travel card.
A full list of accepted photo ID can be found on the reverse of poll cards or by visiting www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/photo-id-youll-need .
Those who do not have a valid form of photographic identification can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, which is free. You can apply online via www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.
The deadline for this is 5pm on 24 April 2024. For information, please visit www.lincoln.gov.uk/voting-elections .
Register to Vote
Those wishing to vote in the upcoming elections must be registered to vote.
This takes less than 5 minutes and can be done online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote .
The deadline to register to vote for these elections is midnight on 16 April 2024.
Ways to vote:
There are a number of ways to vote in the upcoming elections:
In person
Polling stations will be open from 7am – 10pm on 2 May for the elections.
Please make sure you check the location of your polling station on your poll card, as this may have changed, or alternatively, check your polling station at: www.lincoln.gov.uk/v/find-polling-station
Voters must all bring a valid form of photographic identification in order to receive their ballot paper to vote.
By post
Postal voting is available on request to any registered elector.
To set up a postal vote, you will need to complete a postal vote application form. You can apply by visiting: www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote .
The deadline for applications for postal votes is 5pm on 17 April 2024.
Handing in postal votes
Voters can return their postal vote via Royal Mail.
From 2 May 2024 at all elections in England and Wales, voters will be only able to hand deliver their own postal vote, and the postal votes of up to five other people, at the Reception at City Hall, Beaumont Fee, or at any polling station across the City.
Campaigners can only hand deliver their own postal vote, and postal votes for up to five other people that are either close relatives, or someone they provide regular care for.
Anyone hand delivering postal votes will need to complete a ‘return of postal voting documents’ form.
If a voter was to hand deliver postal votes without the required form completed, these postal votes will be rejected. Similarly, if any postal votes are returned via the letter box at the Council Offices, these will be rejected.
More detail can be found at: https://www.lincoln.gov.uk/voting-elections/postal-proxy-voting .
By proxy
A ‘proxy’ is someone who is appointed by you to vote on your behalf at an election, so to vote by proxy you must first find someone who you trust to cast your vote on your behalf.
You can find more information about applying for a proxy vote at: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/apply-vote-proxy
The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on 24 April 2024.
For full details on voting in the elections on 2 May, visit www.lincoln.gov.uk/voting-elections or alternatively email elections@lincoln.gov.uk or call 01522 873255.