Voting and Elections
Use the links below to find the information you need:
- Voter ID at UK elections
- Register to vote
- Apply to vote by post
- Apply to vote by proxy
- Current elections
- Election results
- Find my polling station
- Boundary reviews
- Register of Electors
- Electoral Registration Annual Canvass
- Referendums
- Temporary Jobs with Electoral Services
Voter ID
Following a change in the law by the Government, you now need to show photo ID to be able to vote in UK elections.
If you do not bring photo ID with you to the polling station and produce it when asked, then you will not be able to cast your vote.
The video below explains more about the new voter ID requirement. It was produced for the local elections held on 4 May 2023 when voter ID was introduced for the first time, but the information is still valid for all UK elections.
Which forms of photo ID can I use to vote?
You will only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy. You may already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable. You can use any of the following:
- Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
- Photocard Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
- A Blue Badge
- Older Person’s Bus Pass
- Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
- Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
- Biometric immigration document
- Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
- National identity card issued by an EEA state
- Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
- Voter Authority Certificate
- Anonymous Elector's Document
- Oyster 60+ Card
- Freedom Pass
- Scottish National Entitlement Card
- 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
- Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland.
Forms of photo ID not accepted
Only forms of photo ID on the list above will be accepted. Work issued photo ID cards (e.g by local government, police, NHS etc) and student cards without a PASS mark won't be accepted. If you are unsure if the form of photo ID you plan to use is valid then please contact our elections team by emailing
Out of date photo ID
You can still use your photo ID if it's out of date, as long as it looks like you. The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.
What if I don’t have an accepted form of photo ID?
If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
We expect the photo ID requirement to be in force for the next UK General Election which must be held sometime before January 2025. You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate at any time, you do not need to wait for an election to be called.
Apply for a free voter authority certificate on GOV.UK.
Applying for a Voter Authority Certificate online is the fastest way to get voter photo ID if you do not already have an accepted form of photo ID. If you cannot use the online system, then please visit our Customer Contact Centres in Evesham, Droitwich or Pershore and our customer service staff will be happy to help you.
Find out the opening times of Wychavon's Customer Contact Centres.
You can also call our elections team to request a paper application form by calling 01386 565437 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
When applying for a Voter Authority Certificate you will need to supply us with some basic details and a photograph. Watch our video guide below to see how to take your photo correctly.
Find out more about Voter ID
If you have any general questions about the introduction of Voter ID then please visit the Electoral Commission Voter ID page, or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.
If you need help with applying for Voter ID or have a specific query about Voter ID and the Wychavon District Council, town and parish council elections on 4 May 2023, then call our elections team on 01386 565437 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Register to vote
You can register to vote on the Government's website. This is the fastest way of registering.
Before you register you will need to know your national insurance number. If you do not have a national insurance number, or have lost it, please contact us.
Usually within three to six weeks of the Electoral Registration Officer receiving your application your name will be added to the Register of Electors as long as your details can be correctly verified.
We will write and confirm that your name has been added to the Register.
Apply to vote by post
Voting by post allows you to vote at home without needing to visit a polling station. Before each election we will send your ballot paper to you in the post with a form to complete with your date of birth and signature.
Download the postal vote application form.
Please send your completed form to
Apply to vote by proxy
If you cannot make it to a polling station on polling day then you can send someone else to vote on your behalf. This is called voting by proxy.
The person you nominate as your proxy must be registered to vote and will need to be able to show valid photo ID at the polling station.
You can apply to vote by proxy as a one-off for a particular election or for a permanent proxy vote if your circumstances mean you will have difficulty getting to a polling station long-term.
You can download proxy vote application forms on the Government's website.
The deadline to apply to vote by proxy is normally six working days before an election. However, in some circumstances emergency proxy voting is also available. Please contact us for more information and guidance about voting by Emergency Proxy.
Please send your completed form to
Current elections
Dodderhill Parish Council – Dodderhill ward - Thursday 5th October
pdf Notice of Election (61 KB)
pdf Statement of Persons Nominated (58 KB)
pdf Notice of Situation of Polling Stations (18 KB)
Evesham Town Council – Little Hampton ward – Thursday 2nd November – Further information to follow
Dodderhill Parish Council – Dodderhill ward – Thursday 2nd November – Further information to follow
Casual vacancies
There are no Casual Vacancies at this time.
Future elections
Parliamentary election (General Election)
An exact date for the next General Election, when you vote for a Member of Parliament, has not been set but it can take place no later than Thursday, January 23, 2025. This is because General Elections must be held five years apart. The Prime Minister has the power to call a General Election at any time before this date so the election could happen sooner.
Find out more about Parliamentary elections on the Parliament website.
Police & Crime Commissioner Election – The next PCC election will be held on Thursday 2nd May 2024.
To find out more about this election, please visit Types of election, referendums, and who can vote: Police and Crime Commissioner - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Polling Station Maps
Search for your nearest polling station
(We have provided this link to another website solely to try and help you to find information. We are not responsible for the content of other websites, which are not controlled or endorsed by us.)
Polling District & Polling Place Reviews
Boundary reviews
Wychavon electoral ward boundary review
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) has carried out a review of Wychavon's electoral arrangements.
The commission has recommended the number of electoral wards in Wychavon should be reduced by five to 27 wards. The number of councillors will be cut from 45 to 43.
These arrangements will be used for the first time at the Wychavon District Council election on Thursday, 4 May 2023.
Find out more about the LGBCE electoral review of Wychavon.
Parliamentary Constituency Boundary Review
The Boundary Commission for England is reviewing Parliamentary constituencies across the country. These are used to elect MPs to Parliament at a General Election.
Changes have been proposed which will affect our district. Find out more about the Boundary Commission for England review of Parliamentary constituencies.
Register of Electors
Due to national legislation we are unable to publish the ‘Register of Electors' online. You can view a paper copy of the full register at Pershore Civic Centre, but we do advise that the information is for electoral use only. Inspection of the register is done under supervision and only handwritten notes may be taken.
Electoral Registration Annual Canvass
Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are required to keep the register of eligible voters up to date. From July each year, they contact every household to find out if the details on the electoral register are correct. This is called the annual canvass.
Your household may be contacted in different ways, such as by:
- post
- phone
- knocking on your door
If you need to update your details on the electoral register, it’s important that you respond as soon as you can. This means reminders don’t have to be sent, and someone does not need to visit you to get this information.
Online notification of changes can be made on the household response website. You will need the security codes from our email or forms to complete this.
Referendums
The first was National Referendums in 1975 for the European Communities membership to gauge support for continued membership. The second was in 2011 for the Alternative Vote, to change the voting from the 'first past the post' system.
A referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union took place on Thursday 23 June 2016.
UK-wide, national and regional referendums
The Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000 (PPERA) establishes a fixed legal framework for the conduct of any referendum held across the UK, or a referendum held in Scotland, Wales, England or Northern Ireland.
Neighbourhood Planning Referendums
Neighbourhood planning was introduced under the Localism Act to give members of the community a more ‘hands on’ role in the planning of their neighbourhoods. It enables communities to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and deliver the sustainable development they need through planning policies relating to the development and use of land.
Read about Neighbourhood Planning in Wychavon.
What is a petition for a change to a different form of governance?
The council can be petitioned to hold a referendum on whether our district should change to a different form of governance.
The Local Government Act 2000 requires the Council to publish a notice which sets out the minimum number of signatures which would be needed to support a valid petition requiring the council to hold a referendum on whether the district should change to a different form of governance.
Minimum number of signatures to support a valid petition
The minimum number, equal to 5 per cent of the local government electors for the county of Worcestershire shown in the revised registers published at 15 February, is 5147.
This is the minimum number of signatures needed to support any petitions to the council submitted between 1 April 2023 and before 31 March 2024.
A new number will be published in February 2024 and if the number is less than 5147 then the new number will apply from the date published.
Temporary jobs with Electoral Services
Would you like to help us run national and local elections? Then sign up for one of our temporary election roles. You can find out more on our Temporary jobs with Electoral Services page.
Contact us
For more information contact the Electoral Services Team:
Electoral Services Team
Wychavon District Council
Civic Centre
Queen Elizabeth Drive
Pershore
WR10 1PT
Tel: 01386 565437 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday
Email: