The electoral registration officer of Bath & North East Somerset Council is inviting residents who are not yet registered to vote to do so online before the deadline.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a general election will take place on Thursday, July 4, and people can register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote until June 18.

Anyone who has not registered by this deadline will not be able to vote on polling day.

The notice of election has been published on the council’s website www.bathnes.gov.uk/general-election-2024. Registered voters will have started to receive their polling cards from Monday, June 10.

Voters who cannot go to the polling station in person on Thursday, July 4, can apply for one of the following:

  • A postal vote – you can apply online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote or you can request a paper form to be posted or emailed to you. Completed applications, whether online or paper, must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday, June 19.
  • A proxy vote – a proxy is someone you trust who goes to your polling station and votes on your behalf. The proxy must be 18 or over and must be registered to vote and eligible to vote at parliamentary elections in the UK. You can apply for a proxy vote online at www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote or you can request a paper form to be posted or emailed to you. Completed applications, whether online or paper, must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm Wednesday, June 26.

Completed paper applications can be emailed to [email protected] or can be posted to the Electoral Registration Officer, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Guildhall, High Street, Bath, BA1 5AW.

Voters are reminded that for the first time at a general election those voting at a polling station will need to show photo ID.

Voters should check now if they have an accepted form of ID and if not to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. You can apply online at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate or by completing a paper form. Applications must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday, June 26.

All information regarding registering to vote and voter ID can be obtained from the Guildhall in Bath if you do not have access to the internet. To get in touch with the local electoral registration team, call 01225 477333.