Elections 2024

We are responsible for running two elections on Thursday 2 May 2024. 

Elections will be held across Woking borough wards for:

All British, European and qualifying Commonwealth electors on the electoral register are eligible to vote in the elections.

Read more about who is eligible to vote

Elections dates and notices

Register to vote

To be able to vote, you must be registered to vote.

If you need to register, you must do so by 11.59pm on Tuesday 16 April. All you will need is five minutes of your time and your National Insurance number.

  • You do not need to register to vote before every election. 
  • If you have moved house, you should register to vote again.

Register to vote online

Photo ID requirements at polling stations

All voters at polling stations are required to show an approved form of photo ID before being issued with a ballot paper.

This rule applies to local elections, Police and Crime Commissioner elections, and UK Parliamentary including by-elections and recall petitions. 

Voters who do not show accepted forms of photo ID or a Voter Authority Certificate will not be allowed to vote on polling day.

Accepted photo ID

You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable. 

You can still use out of date (expired) photo ID, as long as it looks like you. The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.

View the full list of accepted forms of photo ID

If you don't have accepted photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.

    Voter Authority Certificates (VACs)

    Voter Authority Certificates (VACs) are a form of photo ID which can be used when voting. They are designed for people who don’t have another form of photo ID accepted at the polls.

    The application deadline for VACs closes at 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.

    Apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate

    Other important photo ID information

    • Postal voters are not required to show photo ID. 
    • Proxy voters voting in person at polling stations will need to show their photo ID. 
    • Local Elector Cards, previously issued to residents as part of the Woking borough 2018 and 2019 voter ID pilot schemes, will not be accepted as valid identification. 

    Ways you can vote

    Vote in person

    When voting in person, you will need to bring and show photo ID before you are issued with your ballot paper.

    A private area will be available, so you can choose to have your photo ID and physical likeness compared in a confidential space. This might be a separate room, or an area separated by a privacy screen, depending on the polling station.

    You do not need to bring your poll card to your nominated polling station. However, bringing it with you helps the poll clerks to manage the process in a quicker and more efficient manner.

    Pencils are available at each station, but you are welcome to use your own if you wish.

    Find your polling station

    View all Woking borough polling stations

    Accessible polling stations

    The voting process should be accessible to all voters. We offer a range of support for voters with disabilities to enable them to vote independently or with assistance.

    Read about accessibility facilities and support in all polling stations

    Vote using a postal vote

    You do not need to provide photo ID to vote by post.

    Voters who have opted to vote by post need to make sure their postal ballot pack (completed and sealed) is returned as instructed.

    If you haven’t posted it, you can hand it in at any polling station within the borough. Or, hand deliver it to our Civic Offices up until 10pm on polling day, Thursday 2 May.

    When returning your postal pack by hand you will be asked to complete a 'returns' form. This will be provided by polling day or council staff. This is a new legal requirement for any election taking place on or after 2 May 2024. 

    Postal votes returned by hand without completed returns form will be rejected from the ballot.

    Postal vote changes, cancellations or new applications

    The deadline for new postal vote applications, and changing or cancelling existing postal or postal proxy vote arrangements closes at 5pm on Wednesday 17 April.

    Read more about voting by post

    Vote using a proxy (trusted person)

    A proxy is a trusted person you can appoint to vote on your behalf either in person at your allocated polling station or via a postal vote.

    Before casting your vote, your proxy will need to show their photo ID. Your proxy does not need to show your photo ID when voting on your behalf.

    Proxy vote, changes, cancellations or new applications

    The deadline for changing or cancelling existing proxy or postal proxy vote arrangements closes at 5pm on Wednesday 17 April.

    The deadline for new proxy vote applications (not postal proxies or emergency proxies) closes at 5pm on Wednesday 24 April

    Read more about voting with a proxy

    Vote using an emergency proxy (trusted person)

    If you become unwell shortly before polling day, or on the day itself, you don’t need to miss out on your vote.

    You may be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote up until 5pm on Thursday 2 May, so someone you trust can vote on your behalf. 

    You can organise an emergency proxy vote by speaking to our elections services team on 01483 743 860.

    Read more about voting using an emergency proxy

      Other useful links and information

      Read more about the voter ID requirement

      View the councillor seats up for election or retirement on 2 May 2024

      View the borough's electoral wards

      Visit the Electoral Commission website