Just Over a Month to go to Local Elections and Voter ID

Ribble Valley goes to the polls on 4 May to elect councillors for the borough’s 40 wards.

And you are being asked to make sure you are vote-ready by checking you have the right photo-ID.

Accepted ID includes a passport, driving licence or bus pass and you will be able to use expired ID if you are still recognisable from the photo.

But if you do not have one of the accepted forms of ID you can apply for free photo-ID, called a Voter Authority Certificate, online.

Or you can complete a paper form and post it to Ribble Valley Borough Council, or complete it in person at the Council Offices in Church Walk, Clitheroe.

To apply for the certificate, you will need to provide a photograph, your full name, date of birth, the address at which you are registered to vote and national insurance number or other form of proof of identity, such as a birth certificate, bank statement or utility bill.

The deadline to apply for a voter authority certificate is 5pm on Tuesday, 25 April, but you should apply as soon as possible in case the council needs to check any details with you.

The full list of accepted photo-ID and details of how to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate are available at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.

You can also download a paper application form and send it to Electoral Services, Ribble Valley Borough Council, Council Offices, Church Walk, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 2RA.

Or you can phone the council’s electoral services team on 01200 414411 or 01200 414426 to book an appointment to complete the form in person.

●        Don’t forget to vote you must also be registered to vote. It only takes five minutes to register online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. Please make sure you are registered to vote before applying for a Voter Authority Certificate.