Braintree District Council – Reminder for this Thursday’s election

Residents in the Braintree District are being reminded to bring one piece of photo ID or two pieces of non-photo ID when they vote in the local elections on May 2, 2019.

Braintree District Council is taking part in a trial which will provide the Cabinet Office with further insight into how best to strengthen and secure the voting process.

Returning Officer Andy Wright, who is also Braintree District Council’s Chief Executive, said: “We’ve been working hard to get the message out to our residents that they need to bring ID to vote at the district elections.

“Residents would have seen the messages on notice boards, waste collection vehicles, bus shelters, in their local newspapers, on social media as well as via direct mail.

“Residents are already used to using ID to pick up packages from the Post Office so it shouldn’t seem at all strange that we are trailing the use of ID as part of the electoral system.

“Although we have no evidence that there has been any voter fraud within the Braintree District, it is important that areas like ours trial Voter ID to make sure that a solution to issues elsewhere will also work in rural locations such as ours.”

Residents should bring the following when they attend their polling station to vote:

• one piece of photo ID such as a passport, photo-driving licence, bus pass.

OR

• two pieces of non-photo ID such as a poll card for the local elections, utility bill, bank/building society/credit card statement, debit/credit card.

Other pieces of ID will be accepted. Visit www.braintree.gov.uk/voterid for a full list.

Anyone without the required identification will be able to apply to Braintree District Council for an Electoral Identity Document. Residents can apply for one of these up until 5pm on Wednesday, May 1.

Braintree District Council launched its campaign to spread the message to residents on Monday, February 25. It has sent information directly to all residents as well as using advertising reminder messages in local newspapers, pharmacy bags, on outdoor media such as bus shelters and waste collection vehicles as well as digital media including social media.

Braintree District Council has enlisted the help of a local sausage dog called Morty as part of its social media campaign. You can watch Morty here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bMkfSlq7kQ

The council is also using its links into more hard to reach communities to address any concerns people in those communities may have.

Braintree District Council’s Elections Team is on hand if residents have any concerns or queries regarding the Voter ID trial or the elections generally. Residents can call 01376 552525 or email via [email protected]

Please note that postal vote arrangements have not changed. Braintree District Council is one of a number of local authorities across England taking part in the Voter ID trials. Each local authority is testing different aspects of identification. The Braintree District Council trial does not include postal votes. There are other pilots testing postal voting.

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