Residents who are registered to vote will now be receiving their polling cards ahead of the Surrey Police Crime Commissioner May elections 2024. These confirm that the election will take place on 2 May 2024. If you have not registered to vote, it’s not too late, you have until 16th April 2024. To register to vote, apply for postal or proxy voting and Voter ID: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections.
What is the role of the Police Crime Commissioner (PCC)?
The role of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) was introduced across England and Wales in 2012. The PCC oversees how crime is tackled in the county and holds the police force to account on Surrey residents’ behalf to make sure they are providing an effective and efficient service. The Commissioner also works with the Chief Constable to set the overall direction for the force through the Police and Crime Plan, and proposes the amount of Council Tax that will go towards policing from Surrey residents.
The deadline for registering to vote is 16 April
To vote on 2 May, residents must be registered by Tuesday 16 April. It’s only necessary to register once unless your details have changed – including name or address. Young people who have recently turned 18 need to register. It only takes a few minutes and can be done online at gov.uk/register-to-vote.
Another important thing for residents to remember is to bring a valid Voter ID/Photo ID to the polling station. This was introduced last year. A wider range of ID is accepted including a passport, driving license, disabled or older person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government, and a biometric immigration document. Residents without an accepted form of photo ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC).
New in 2024
There are changes to postal and proxy voting, which came into force on 31 October 2023. For example, you now need to prove your identity when applying, there is a limit on the number of people for whom someone may act as a proxy, and you need to reapply for a postal vote after three years.
Eligible voters can now also apply online. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is by 5 pm on Wednesday 17 April, and for a proxy vote it’s by 5 pm on Wednesday 24 April.
This year PCC elections will also use the first past the post voting method rather than the supplementary voting system used in previous years. This means voters will vote for only one candidate as in other elections.