Local election 2024

Combined Runnymede Borough Council and Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Elections  

Thursday 2 May 2024

Information for Candidates and Agents

A briefing has been scheduled to help prepare prospective candidates who wish to stand as a borough councillor at the forthcoming elections on Thursday 2 May 2024. As well as informing candidates and their agents on matters that will affect their campaign, it will also be a chance for them to meet and ask questions of the Electoral Services Team.

A candidates and agents briefing will take place on Wednesday 13 March 2024 at 2pm in the Committee Room of the Civic Centre in Station Road, Addlestone.

You can find more information about standing as a local government election candidate on the Electoral Commissions website

Nominations will open on Monday 18 March 2024 and will close at 4pm on Friday 5 April 2024 and will be by appointment only, contact kath.richards@runnymede.gov.uk for further information.

Vacancy in the officer of councillor Woodham and Rowtown ward

 Notice of casual vacancy

The links below will be available shortly after the briefing has taken place

Election Notices

You can find out more information about the Police and Crime Commissioner elections by visiting the website

• Choose My PCC

Information for Electors

Key deadlines for elections taking place on Thursday 2 May 2024

Voting in person

You can vote in person at your allocated polling station. Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm. If there is a queue you will still be able to vote as long as you joined the queue before 10pm.

Voter ID

You will be required to show an approved form of photographic identification to polling station staff before being issued with a ballot paper.

If you do not already have any of the accepted forms of photographic identification, you will be able to apply either in person, by post or online, for a Voter Authority Certificate - a free photographic identification document specific for the purposes of voting.

• accepted form of identification

If your photographic identification document has expired it will still be accepted as long as the photograph is still a good likeness of you.

You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate online

• Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’)

Alternatively, you can apply using a paper application form call 01932 838383 during office hours to request a paper application from.

The deadline to apply is 5pm, 6 working days ahead of a poll. For the elections taking place on Thursday 2 May 2024, the deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm, Wednesday 24 April 2024. 

If you have recently moved to Runnymede from another local authority area and have a Voter Authority Certificate issued by your previous local authority, you do NOT need to apply for a new one, you can use it to vote in your polling station in Runnymede, so long as the photo remains a good likeness to you.

For more information visit the electoral Commission website

• Voter ID

Postal vote handling and absent vote secrecy

For all elections from Thursday 2 May 2024 onwards political campaigners will be banned from handling postal vote packs. Any packs handed in by political campaigners may not be counted.

If you vote by post, you should return your postal pack using Royal Mail. If you decide to hand your postal vote in, in person please be aware that you will need to complete a form in all circumstances. Please do not post your completed postal pack through the letter box at the Council Offices.

There will also be a limit to the number of postal vote packs that a person can hand in. If you intend to hand in your postal vote pack, for example at the Council Offices or at a polling station you will be required to complete a form with a member of staff. If this form is not fully completed your vote will not be counted. Forms will be available within the Council Offices and polling stations.

Voting by post

To vote by post, you need to complete a postal vote application form on the GOV UK website

• Postal vote application

We must receive your completed postal vote application no later than 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024.

Voting by proxy (someone voting on your behalf)

To vote by proxy you need to ask someone you trust to vote on your behalf. You need to complete a proxy vote application form. You can complete some proxy applications on GOV UK

• Proxy applications

You can find out more about proxy voting on the electoral Commission website

• Find out more about Proxy voting

We must receive your completed proxy vote application no later than 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024.

Please note that the deadline for a postal-proxy (where your appointed proxy wishes to vote by post) is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024.

Emergency proxy vote

In certain circumstances, where you have an emergency that means you cannot vote in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy.

This must be something that you weren't aware of before the normal proxy vote deadline.

The form you need to complete depends on your reason for needing an emergency proxy vote.

• Emergency proxy application (medical) 
• Emergency proxy application (employment) 
• Emergency proxy application (Voter Identification)

You will need to download the relevant emergency proxy vote application form and print it. Once you have completed the form and made sure you have signed it, you can scan and email it to elecservices@runnymede.gov.uk or send it to us at the address below

The Electoral Registration Officer
Runnymede Borough Council
Civic Centre
Station Road
Addlestone
KT15 2AH

We must receive your completed emergency proxy application no later than 5pm on polling day.

If you are not sure if you have a postal vote or proxy vote already contact the Electoral Services Office.