Bury residents are being reminded to join the electoral register if they want to vote in the upcoming local elections.

Taking place on Thursday, May 5, one third of the council’s seats will be up for election, 17 of the total of 51, which accounts for one in each of the borough’s 17 wards.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm and informative letters are currently being delivered to households in the borough. 

Residents are also being reminded to apply in time for a postal or proxy vote and, if planning to vote in person on the day, to take photographic ID with them.

Anyone registering to vote must be on the electoral register to vote.

Read more: Local elections 2022: Timetable of key results and events

If you are not already, the deadline for applying is midnight on Monday, April 17 and to register you can go to https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

To vote by post, residents can apply for one by downloading a form here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/apply-vote-post

This will need to be returned before 5pm on Tuesday, April 17 and a ballot paper will be sent around two weeks before the day of the election.

If you apply to vote by post, you will not be able to vote in person at a polling station.

Those who want someone they trust to vote on their behalf must request a proxy vote by 5pm on Tuesday, April 25.

This can be downloaded here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/apply-vote-proxy

Those going to a polling station this year or voting by proxy, must show identification which contains a photograph of you or the person you are voting on behalf of.

You can use any of the following:

  • Passport
  • Driving licence (including provisional licence)
  • Blue Badge
  • Certain concessionary travel cards
  • Identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
  • Biometric immigration document
  • Defence identity card
  • Certain national identity cards

If you do not bring a photographic ID, you will not be able to vote and the ID must be in the name that you registered on the electoral register.

For further information about which forms of photo ID will be accepted, visit https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterIDor call the helpline 0800 328 0280.

If you don’t have any of the photographic ID listed above, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate from the government. 

To apply, go to https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificateor call the helpline 0800 328 0280.