Bristol residents to vote in four elections

Delayed polls to take place on 6 May

Bristol residents will be heading to the polls to have their say in four elections on Thursday, 6 May, 2021.

Elections will take place for the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Combined Authority Mayor (for the West of England), the Mayor of Bristol – as well as local elections.

The local elections will result in 70 local councillors being voted in for the 34 wards of Bristol.

They were originally due to take place in May 2020 but were postponed across the country by central government due to the pandemic.

Elections for May 2021 have since been given the go-ahead and citizens on the electoral register can chose from three different ways to vote – all of which will be safe.

Three ways to vote

The three ways to vote are as follows:

• Polling station – citizens will be able to vote in person at the polling station on their poll card from 7am to 10pm. Staff are taking precautions to make sure that polling stations are Covid-secure, including one-way systems, social distancing, face coverings and sanitising. Voters will also be invited to bring their own pencil if they prefer.
• Postal – voters can apply for a postal vote from now until 5pm on Tuesday 20 April
• Proxy – where you can ask someone to vote on your behalf either at a polling station or by post.

Returning Officer for Bristol Elections, Tim O’Gara, said: “The council have been preparing to make these elections Covid-secure so that all electors can take part safely and confidently.

“I would urge citizens to make sure they’re registered to vote at their current address and decide which method of voting they prefer early on, all of which will be safe…”

To vote in any election in the UK, you must be registered to vote. The deadline to register is midnight on 19 April 2021. You can register online at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

If you’re unable to register online, you can apply by post. You can download the relevant forms here.

Voters should not attend the polling station if they have symptoms of Covid-19, or if they have been asked to self-isolate.

If you are self-isolating or become unwell as a result of Covid-19 shortly before polling day, or on the day itself, you don’t need to miss out on your vote. You will be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote – where someone you trust can vote on your behalf.

If you were registered to vote in the last election and your details have not changed, you don’t need to take any action. If in doubt, you can check with Electoral Services on 0117 922 3400.

For more information about the elections visit https://www.bristol.gov.uk/voting-elections/local-elections-thursday-6-may-2021