From May 2023 you are now required to show photographic identification at polling stations before you can be given a ballot paper. 

For further information please see our dedicated page on Voter Identitification.

From 31st October 2023 postal vote applicants will be required to provide their National Insurance Number as well as a date of birth and signature. Postal vote applications will expire after three years and a fresh application will have to be submitted. 

At the same election, someone can only be a proxy for two people based in the UK. If they are acting as proxy for people living overseas, they can act as proxy for up to four people but only two of these can be based in the UK. Application for certain types of proxies you will also be required to provide a National Insurance number (NINO)

For further information and how to apply please see our dedicated page on Absent Votes - postal and proxy

From May 2024 Elections there is now a limit on the number of postal vote packs that a person can hand in at a polling station or at the Council offices, where possible please post your postal vote packs back to us in plenty of time ahead of polling day. 

An elector is only able to deliver their own plus five other postal votes either at a polling station or Council office. The elector will also be required to complete a declaration form to confirm the number of postal votes being handed in and if exceeding the maximum limit, they will be rejected. 

A ban and new criminal offence will be in place to stop political campaigners handling completed postal votes and postal vote envelopes on behalf of electors. Except where the postal vote is their own, that of a close family member or someone that they provide regular care. 

Secrecy rules will be extended to include all absent votes.

These changes came into force on 16 January 2024.

The 15-year limit on voting for British citizens living abroad has been removed. Any British citizens who were previously registered to vote in the UK, or who previously lived in the UK, are able to register as an overseas elector.  

British citizens living abroad will be required to re-register every 3 years. 

Overseas electors will have the option to re-apply for a postal or refresh their proxy vote, which will then be 'tied' to the new three-year period of registration (unless a shorter period for the absent vote is specified by the elector and it therefore expires before. 

For more information see The Electoral Commission 

Click here to register as an overseas elector

These changes are expected to come in after the May 2024 polls.

EU citizens will no longer automatically be entitled to register to vote and stand for election. The changes apply to local elections in England and Northern Ireland elections for Police and Crime Commissioner in England and Wales.

Two groups of EU citizens will retain their rights:

• 'Qualifying EU citizens' from countries with reciprocal agreements, and who have leave, or do not require it, to remain in the UK. This currently applies to Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, and Spain
• 'EU citizens with retained rights' who were residents in the UK before 1 January 2021 -  before the UK left the EU

This change will impact the Police Crime Commissioner elections from 2024.

The current system for Mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections is called "supplementary voting", which allows voters to vote for candidates in order of preference. This system will be replaced with the "first past the post" system which is used for local and general elections. First past the post allows voters to make one selection on their ballot paper.

Winchester City council has taken steps to ensure the electoral process is as accessibile as possible. Please see our dedicated Helping you to vote - disabled access and information

New laws since November 2023 bring changes that simplify the offence of undue influence.  Undue influence is when a person has been made to vote in a certain way, or not vote at all. 

These changes apply to:

• Local elections in England
• Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England
• General elections including UK recall petitions

The changes that have been introduced will make it simpler for the Police to take action on allegations of undue influence. 

This will include offences of both direct and indirect influence, taking place before and after an election.

The changes apply to all campaign activity, which includes printed material and intimidation that takes place inside or outside a polling station.

The ability to impose prison sentences or fines will also help to deter intimidation of candidates and campaigners.

 

• The introduction of digital imprints
• A new penalty for anyone found guilty of intimidating candidates, campaigners or elected representatives.
• Changes to notional spending by candidates.
• Changes to legal requirements for parties and non-party campaigners.

Further information on the changes can be found on the Electoral Commission website.