WIRRAL residents wanting to vote in the upcoming May elections have only got a few hours left to register.

Elections for a Mayor for the Liverpool City Region and a Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner take place on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

If you've recently moved house, changed your name, or never registered to vote before, you must register online by 11.59pm on Tuesday, April 16 2024 at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

If you want to vote by post you must apply online for a postal vote by 5pm on Wednesday, April 17.

Paul Satoor, local returning officer at Wirral Council, said: "Don't lose your chance to use your vote at elections, as they are an important opportunity to have your say on who represents you and makes decisions about issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Wirral.

"If you’re in doubt about whether you need to register to vote, or have questions about how to apply for a postal or proxy vote, or free photo ID, you can contact Wirral Council’s Electoral Services Team by e-mail at electoral@wirral.gov.uk or tel. 0151 691 8046."

The law has recently changed on how you can submit your completed postal vote. 

All postal votes must now be returned via Royal Mail, or you can hand deliver up to 5 postal vote packs plus your own to the Elections Office at Birkenhead Town Hall from 9am – 5pm from Monday, April 22 to Thursday, May 2.

Alternatively, you can deliver completed postal ballot packs to any polling station in Wirral on election day (Thursday 2 May). You will be required to complete a declaration form by a member of staff.

If you’re unable to vote in person you can ask someone to vote on your behalf. Proxy votes are only available in certain circumstances, and you do have to apply.

You can apply online for certain proxy votes at www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote. Online applications must be completed by 5pm on Wednesday April 24, 2024.

You will need photo ID to vote at a polling station.

Information about valid photo ID is available on the Electoral Commission website at https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id.

Please note, Merseytravel Local Bus Passes are not a valid form of ID. A Merseytravel pass must say ‘Funded by HM Government’ to be valid. 

If you do not have a valid photo ID you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate on the Electoral Commission website by 5pm on Wednesday, April 24.

Craig Westwood, director of communications at the Electoral Commission, said: "It is important that people check they’re election ready ahead of upcoming deadlines.

"All voters must be registered, and some may need to apply for a postal or proxy vote or free photo ID."