Make sure you’re ready to have your say on 5 May

Voters will have been sent a poll card which will tell them where they should go to cast their vote. Voters will be allocated to a polling station based on their home address. Information on polling stations is also available on the Electoral Commission’s website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information.

Staff will be on hand at polling stations to assist voters with any questions about filling out their ballot paper. There are also a number of things that will be available to help people cast their vote, including large print sample ballot papers and tactile voting devices to help those with a visual impairment.

Paul Jones, returning officer for Cheltenham Borough Council, said: “Make sure you check the information on your poll card, as your polling station might have changed since the last election. You do not need your poll card to vote, but we encourage you to bring it with you to make the process quicker and more efficient.”

Ailsa Irvine, director of Electoral Administration and Guidance at the Electoral Commission, said: “Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 5 May. Voters who have opted to vote by post must return their postal ballot pack by 10pm; they can hand it in at their polling station if they don’t have time to return it by post.”

Those voting in person on 5 May might see some public health measures in place at polling stations, similar to those in place in other indoor venues. Pencils will be provided and voters can also bring their own. Everyone entering a polling station is asked to consider wearing a face covering and only vote at the polling station if they are feeling well.

Anyone self-isolating or who has become unwell as a result of Covid-19, doesn’t need to lose their vote. Voters have up to 5pm on polling day to apply for an emergency proxy vote. This allows them to nominate someone they trust to vote on their behalf. For additional information on how to apply for an emergency proxy, voters should contact the electoral registration team at [email protected] or call 01242 264132.

For further information on elections in their area, voters can visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter. This page will continue to be updated ahead of the polls.

Results from the Cheltenham count will be posted at www.cheltenham.gov.uk/election-results on 6 May 2022, and also live from the council’s Twitter account @CheltenhamBC.

For media enquiries, contact: communications, telephone 01242 264154, email [email protected]

Notes to editors

Cheltenham Borough Council is made up of 40 councillors, 21 seats are up for election as there is currently one vacancy in College Ward due to the resignation of William Guy Maughling (Lib Dem) in March 2022.

The current political makeup of the borough council is: 29 Liberal Democrats, 7 Conservatives, 2 People Against Bureaucracy and one non-aligned.
The Liberal Democrat group therefore has an overall majority of 19.

The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity by:

• enabling the delivery of free and fair elections and referendums, focusing on the needs of electors and addressing the changing environment to ensure every vote remains secure and accessible
• regulating political finance – taking proactive steps to increase transparency, ensure compliance and pursue breaches
• using our expertise to make and advocate for changes to our democracy, aiming to improve fairness, transparency and efficiency

The commission was set up in 2000 and reports to the UK, Scottish and Welsh Parliaments.