Liverpool’s major council elections have moved a step closer as the local authority has formally announced the poll.
In 38 days' time, the city will go to ballot boxes in 64 new wards to choose 85 new representatives. It is a significant election for Liverpool, with a new governance model replacing the Mayoralty and a new chief executive waiting to take up his position once the membership has been confirmed.
It is also the first election since the significant Caller Report was published in 2021 and the intervention of government-appointed commissioners. On Tuesday April 4, the deadline for candidates is to close, which will give us a clearer picture of where the key battles will be fought as Labour seeks four more years at the helm.
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Liverpool Council has now formally announced the impending election with Theresa Grant, returning officer, setting out the new locations in which votes will be cast. The electoral communication also includes key dates by which candidates and voters must be confirmed.
The Electoral Commission, the independent body which oversees elections in the UK, is encouraging those who haven’t already to ensure they are signed up to vote ahead of the April 17 deadline and can be done online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. A person can register to vote in the May elections if they are aged 18 or over on polling day, a British citizen resident in the UK, or an Irish, EU or qualifying Commonwealth citizen resident in the UK.
Anyone previously on the register who has recently moved home or whose details have changed will need to register to vote again. Arriving at the polling station will be a little different this time around, with significant changes to voter ID requirements.
As of May 4 - polling day in Liverpool and UK wide - those hoping to carry out their democratic duty will have to carry with them a driving licence, passport or other acceptable form of identification as per new Whitehall mandated guidelines.
This has come in following the passing of the Elections Act 2022 through Parliament last April. Earlier this month, it was confirmed Ms Grant, Liverpool Council’s outgoing interim chief executive, would not allow the city’s tradition of placing boxes outside polling places.
During previous elections, parties had placed large boxes with party identities or colours marked on. This was for voters to put their poll cards in as a record of their vote, whether or not a teller is present, acting as an unofficial exit poll.
However, the returning officer has informed parties this will no longer be tolerated. In an election communication seen by the LDRS, Ms Grant said: “This is considered to be very poor practice because it introduces a party-political presence within the polling place and clearly implies they are authorised by the Returning Officer.”
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