Final countdown to polling day

Final countdown to polling day

There’s just one week to go until voters take to the polls to elect local councillors in Tameside and the Mayor for Greater Manchester.

Ahead of polling day, Thursday 2 May, voters are being urged to check the details on their polling cards, including the location of their polling station. Voters can only vote at the polling station listed on their poll card, so should check these details before Thursday to ensure they know where to go.

Voters will also need to show a valid form of photo ID at the polling station. Valid Voter ID includes a passport, driving licence, some types of bus pass or proof of age card, and a full list is available here and on poll cards. ID can be out of date, as long as it is still a good likeness. Voters can also show a valid Voter Authority Certificate if they have applied for one. 

All polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm. People do not need to take their poll cards with them to vote, but doing so may save time when polling station staff check voters’ details on the electoral register.

Postal voters are also encouraged to return their completed postal votes in any Royal Mai post box as soon as possible, using the envelope provided. The postage has already been paid. 

There are new legal measures around returning postal votes in person. Postal voters must either:

• Return their postal vote in any Royal Mail post box (before election day)
• Return their postal vote to a polling station in their electoral area between 7am and 10pm, where they will need to complete a form. Please note they can only hand in a maximum of five postal votes in addition to their own.
• Return their postal vote to the elections office at Dukinfield Town Hall from between 9am and 4pm Monday-Friday (7am-10pm on election day) and before the close of poll, where they will need to complete a form. Again they can only hand in a maximum of five postal votes  in addition to their own.

Postal votes handed in at polling stations or at Dukinfield Town Hall will have to be rejected if a postal vote return form is not completed. The council cannot accept any returns or postal votes handed in or put through the letter box to any other council building - these will be rejected.

Tameside Council Returning Officer Sandra Stewart said: “With just one week left before these elections take place, we want to remind residents in Tameside to check the details of their polling stations and to remember to take an accepted form of Voter ID with them when they go to vote.

“Staff are working hard right across Tameside and our city-region hard to make election day a smooth experience, and help residents have their say on who makes the big decisions and sets the priorities for Tameside and Greater Manchester.”

On 2 May residents in Tameside will be voting in two elections for:

• Councillors. Councillors are elected to represent their local area and residents, and contribute to the development of local policies in areas such as social care, housing, planning, highways, and education.

• The Mayor for Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The Mayor is a major figure in the political life of the city-region, with unique powers and responsibilities. This includes setting budgets and priorities for Greater Manchester’s public services including transport, housing and planning, the fire and rescue service, Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities, and acting as an ambassador for the city-region.

Ends

For information:

• Polling day: Thursday 2 May.
• Mayoral Election count and declaration of result: Saturday 4 May