Elections 2021

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• When is the election? What elections are taking place?

  On Thursday 6 May, residents in Dacorum will be voting for the Hertfordshire County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner elections. The Police and Crime Commissioner election will be held in May after being postponed in May 2020 as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

• How can I vote at the May 2021 elections?
  There are a number of ways to have your say in May - you can vote in a polling station, by post, or by appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf, known as a proxy vote.  
• How can I apply to vote by post or proxy?

  To vote in the elections - either at a polling station, by post, or by appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf as your proxy - you must first be registered to vote.  

  If you are not currently registered, this can be done online in just five minutes. You can register at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote 

  To then apply to vote by post you need to download, print and complete a postal vote application form. Once you have completed the form and signed it, you need to send it to the Electoral Services Team at Dacorum Borough Council, or email to er@dacorum.gov.uk.

  If you’re thinking about voting by post, you can apply to do this now. This will make sure your application is processed early, and your postal vote can be sent to you more quickly once the candidates for the elections are confirmed. 

  If you aren't able to cast your vote in person, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote for you. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is often referred to as your proxy. The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote, or can apply to vote for you by post. 

  To apply for a proxy vote, complete and return the form to vote by proxy, explaining why you can't get to your polling station in person.  

• How do I register to vote?

  To vote in any election in the UK, you must be registered to vote. If you are not currently registered, this can be done online in just five minutes. You can register at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote 

  If you're unable to register online, you can apply by post. You can download the relevant forms on the Electoral Commission website.   

• Is voting by post safe?

  Yes, voting by post is safe and proven cases of electoral fraud are rare. When voting by post, you should mark your vote on the ballot paper in secret, and seal the envelope yourself. 

  You will also be asked to give your date of birth and signature when applying for a postal or proxy vote. This makes postal voting safe, because when you return your postal voting pack, your signature and date of birth are checked against those you provided before, to confirm your identity. 

  Your signature and date of birth are separated from your ballot paper before it is looked at or counted, so giving this information will not affect the secrecy of your vote. 

• How are you making polling stations safe?

  We are putting arrangements in place to help ensure polling stations are safe places to vote. You can expect many of the measures you’ve become used to over recent months in shops and banks, such as hand sanitiser, floor markings and face coverings.  

  We will continue our discussions with public health authorities as we prepare for the elections to make sure we are following the most up-to-date guidance. We will continue to update this page as more information and guidance becomes available.

• Will I need to bring my own pen or pencil?

  Guidance in this area is still being developed, but you are always welcome to use your own pen or pencil. We are working with the Government, members of the electoral community and public health authorities to ensure polling stations are safe places to vote at the May 2021 elections.  

  We will update this page with new information as it becomes available.

• Is it safer to vote by post, instead of going in person?

  We are working hard to ensure that polling stations will be safe places to vote in May, but you can choose to apply to vote by post or by proxy instead if you wish.

• What should I do if I find out closer to the time that I need to self-isolate, or my area goes into a local lockdown?

  We want to make sure that everyone who is entitled to vote is able to do so, regardless of the pandemic. We will be providing more information nearer the time on how you can vote if you need to self-isolate, or live in an area under local lockdown.  

  You do have different options for voting at the May 2021 elections - you can vote in person, by post or by proxy. You can find more information on the Electoral Commission website.