Voters set to go to the polls for the Greater Lincolnshire Mayor and Lincolnshire County Council elections
Voters across the county are heading to the polls to settle two key election races.
Residents are today (Thursday May 1) being asked to pick the first Greater Lincolnshire Mayor as well as the person they want to represent them on Lincolnshire County Council.
And, with polling stations to be open from 7am to 10pm, experts have issued a last minute reminder to ensure that voters take ID with them so they are able to cast their ballot.
Accepted forms of ID include:
*a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport
*a UK or EEA drivers’ licence
*some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card
*HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards
*a free Voter Authority Certificate.
Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo — and full details of the rules around ID can be read here.
They will be required to present ID which will be checked by polling station staff — and a private area will be available at the polling station for anyone who wants to have their photo ID viewed away from others. Anyone arriving at the polling station without a form of accepted ID, however, will be unable to vote.
Niki Nixon, Director of Communications at the Electoral Commission, said: “If you’re going along to your polling station to vote on Thursday, don’t forget your photo ID, you’ll need to show it before you can be given your ballot paper. Check you have it with you before heading to the polling station, so that you don’t have to return later in the day.
“If you lose your ID, or your Voter Authority Certificate does not arrive in time, you can appoint an emergency proxy to vote on your behalf. You will need to contact your council to arrange this before 5pm on election day, and the person you appoint will need their own acceptable photo ID.”
You can look up your nearest polling station on the Electoral Commission’s website here.
Catchup with our election coverage
We’ve been covering a number of stories in the build-up to the election.
Before you head out to vote on election day you can read:
*The full list of Lincolnshire County Council candidates
*A pitch to voters from each of the six mayor contenders
*Read about what could come next on the county council
*Information about when to expect the results
*An expert’s fears that today’s vote will suffer from a low turnout
*You can also re-watch our hustings event for the mayor race here
All of our coverage can be seen on our dedicated election page.
We also love to see your pictures of dogs at poling stations on election days! Send them to news@lincsonline.co.uk
