Police and Crime Commissioner election for the Warwickshire Police area - Thursday 2 May 2024

The election taking place in Stratford-on-Avon District this year on Thursday 2 May 2024 is the Police and Crime Commissioner election for the Warwickshire Police area.

To be able to vote at this election residents must be aged 18 or over on the day of the poll, a British, Commonwealth, Irish or European citizen and be on the electoral register or have applied to be so by midnight on Tuesday 16 April. If in doubt, please contact Stratford District Council's Elections Office on 01789 260208 to check you are on the electoral register at your current address.

Postal votes and proxy votes, where someone votes on your behalf, are available to any District resident who is on the electoral register.

Postal votes are especially useful for those who are unable to get to a polling station on polling day, due to health reasons or maybe on holiday or working away.

All completed postal vote application forms must be submitted before 5pm on Wednesday 17 April and applications for proxy votes close at 5pm on Wednesday 24 April. 

To register to vote visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
To apply for a postal vote visit www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
To apply for a proxy vote visit www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote

Electors who wish to vote at a polling station on Thursday 2 May, must now show acceptable photo ID, such as a passport, driving licence, blue badge, and certain bus passes. Full details and a list of acceptable photo ID are available on the Council's website at Voter ID at Polling Stations | Stratford-on-Avon District Council

If electors don't have suitable photo ID, they can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate online at Apply for photo ID to vote (called a 'Voter Authority Certificate') - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.

For all elections enquiries please contact Stratford District Council's Elections Office on 01789 260208.

The last Police and Crime Commissioner election took place on Thursday 6 May 2021 - PCC Results (stratford.gov.uk), after being pushed back by a year because of the outbreak of the Covid pandemic in 2020.  Turnout was 38%.

Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are elected representatives who oversee how crime is tackled in a police force area. They are responsible for setting the strategic direction and budget of police forces. Their aim is to cut crime and to ensure the police force is effective.

Following changes introduced by the Elections Act, the first past the post system is used for PCC elections, replacing the Supplementary Vote system used previously - meaning people get one vote, and the candidate with the most votes wins. 

Poll cards containing details of the election and your Polling station venue will be sent out from Monday 18 March.

Additional information on postal vote handling
There are also now restrictions on who can handle postal voting documents. As of May, voters will not be allowed to hand in more than five postal ballot packs per poll, in addition to their own. Anyone handing in postal votes to the polling station or at the District Council offices will be required to complete a postal vote return form. These rules apply to all postal votes not posted through Royal Mail. The best advice is to post postal votes through Royal Mail

For more information please visit: www.stratford.gov.uk/elections/