Royal Borough invites candidate nominations for Local Elections – Up to April 4th.

The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is officially inviting nominations from prospective candidates in the Local Elections, which take place on Thursday 4 May.

The borough operates by a system of whole council elections every four years, meaning all 41 seats across all 19 wards are available. In addition, all 14 parish councils have all-out elections this year.

The notice of elections has now been published and information about the upcoming polls will be updated on the council’s website at www.rbwm.gov.uk/elections-2023 as it becomes available.

In order to stand, you must meet the relevant qualifying criteria, get supporters to propose your nomination, and you must also sign and submit a nomination form, together with consent to nomination.

Candidate nomination forms can be submitted until 4pm on Tuesday 4 April. The list of nominated candidates will be published soon thereafter.

Information about how to become a councillor and links to the nomination form are available on the council’s website at https://www.rbwm.gov.uk/home/council-and-democracy/elections-and-voting/how-become-councillor

For voters, polling cards are now being dispatched for those already on the electoral register. However it is not too late to register – the last date is Monday 17 April at 11.59pm. Registering to vote is easiest online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote 

Voters will have the usual range of options for casting their ballot – in person, by post, or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote.

Due to a national legal change, for the first time you will need to show photo ID in order to vote at a polling station. A wide range of photo ID will be accepted, including passports, driving licences and cards with a PASS Mark.

If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply by 5pm on Tuesday 25 April for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. Visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID or call 0800 328 0280 to find out more and apply.

The deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications is 5pm on Tuesday 18 April. The deadline for receiving new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy or emergency proxies) is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.

Further voter information and application forms to vote by post or proxy are available at https://www.gov.uk/how-to-vote Paper copies of application forms can also be requested by contacting the local Elections Helpline via 01628 683868 or [email protected] For more information about eligibility to vote, visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk