Elections have formally been declared today (Monday, 13 March) for Tendring taking place on 4 May – and people are being encouraged to take part.

The elections are for both Tendring District Council (TDC) and for town and parish councils across the district.

Those looking to be a councillor for the next four years now have until 4pm on Tuesday, 4 April to submit their nomination to be included on the ballot papers on polling day. Advice for potential candidates can be found on the TDC website at www.tendringdc.gov.uk/elections

To vote in the elections people need to be on the electoral register. While the deadline for voter registration for the upcoming elections is Monday, 17 April, residents are urged to act now. You can register to vote at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or call the TDC Electoral Services team on 01255 686575.

If you live in Tendring and are over-18 you may well be eligible to vote in local elections, including those who live in a refuge or are in the Armed Forces. EU nationals are also eligible to both stand and vote in the forthcoming elections.

Residents who want to vote by post, rather than at a polling station, are being encouraged to apply early, with the deadline for applications 5pm on Tuesday, 18 April. Applications for proxy votes, where you know you will be away on polling day or have accessibility issues, must be made by 5pm on Tuesday, 25 April. If something happens after then you may be able to get an emergency proxy vote up until 5pm on 4 May itself.

Poll cards will be issued soon to voters already registered with details of how and where to vote – for those who vote at a polling station, poll cards will look different this year, contained within an openable packet instead of ‘postcard-style’. There is no change to poll cards for postal voters.

Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday, 4 May. This year, for the first time, voters will need to bring photo ID to be able to vote – find out more about this, including what to do you if you do not have photo ID, at www.tendringdc.gov.uk/council/elections-and-voting/voter-id. TDC is encouraging people to join Find it Friday on 21 April, using that day to dig out their photo ID.

Anyone who may need additional to help to vote is encouraged to contact the council’s Election Service for assistance.

Ian Davidson, the Returning Officer, said now was the time for people to ensure they were registered and able to vote.

“These local elections are hugely important as they shape the make-up of councils and give people their democratic say about what happens where they live,” Mr Davidson added.

“But you can only cast your vote if you are registered, so it is vital to ensure you are registered by the deadline, that you check where and how you vote, and then go to cast your ballot how you wish to do so. If you are planning to vote in person then please also make sure you have a valid form of photo ID or the free alternative Voter Authority Certificate.

“People can also stand as candidates in these elections, and I would recommend anyone looking to do so reads the guidance available on our website as there are some strict rules about how campaigns are managed, which they must abide by.”

Counting of the district council votes will take place overnight on Thursday, 4 May, with town and parish council ballots being counted and results declared from 1pm on Friday, 5 May. Results will be published on the TDC website and through the council’s social media channels.

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