Elections 2024

Key dates for the 2 May 2024 Local Elections are set out below.

Deadlines for Voter Registration, Postal Votes, Proxy Votes and Voter Authority Certificates

• It is now too late to register to vote in the upcoming elections. The deadline to do so was 11:59pm Tuesday 16 April 2024
• It is now too late to apply for a postal vote. The deadline to do so was 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024
• It is now too late to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. The deadline to do so was 5pm, Wednesday 24 April 2024
• It is now too late to apply for a proxy vote. The deadline to do so was 5pm Wednesday 24 April 2024

If you have lost your ID, or will no longer be able to vote at a polling station due to urgent work commitments or for medical reasons that arose after 5pm on Wednesday 24 April, you may be able to apply for an Emergency Proxy.

Nominations

• Nomination have now closed. The names of nominated candidates are available from the Elections 2024 directory.  Please note that we are unable to provide information about candidates beyond the information on statutory notices. It is the responsibility of candidates and their agents to provide electors with information about themselves. 

Poll cards dispatch dates

Everyone will receive an enveloped poll card letter. If you vote in a polling station, your letter will be white. If you are a postal voter, your letter will be a buff colour. If you have moved or change how you wish to vote on 2 May, you will receive acknowledgement and a new pollcard depending on when you make the change

• For voters registered by 26 February – poll cards were dispatched on Thursday 20 March
• For voters registered between 26 February and 25 March – poll cards were dispatched on Friday 12 April
• For voters registered between 25 March and 17 April – poll cards were dispatched around Thursday 25 April

Postal vote packs

Electors will receive separate postal vote packs for the Police and Crime Commissioner election and the local elections – district and town and parish, where contested and the Deddington Neighbourhood Planning referendum. You MUST complete the statement and return with the ballot paper(s) from the pack you received it in. We will not be able to process returned postal votes if they are returned with a statement for a different election. Postal votes will be dispatched as follows:

Police and Crime Commissioner and Deddington Neighbourhood Planning Referendum postal votes

•  1st run - were sent out around 12 April, to electors with a permanent Postal Vote or electors who applied for a Postal Vote prior to 4 April
•  2nd run -  were sent out around 22 April to electors who applied for a Postal Vote between 5 April and 17 April

Local (district and parish where contested) postal votes

• 1st run -  were sent out around 18 April to electors with a permanent Postal Vote or electors who applied for a Postal Vote prior to 4 April
• 2nd run – were sent out around 22 April to electors who applied for a Postal Vote between 5 April and 17 April

You should complete and return your postal vote as soon as possible via Royal Mail. If you return your postal vote to the Cherwell Distric Council offices at Bodicote House, or a polling station on 2 May, we will only be able to accept your postal vote pack if you complete a form. This is a new requirement set out in the Elections Act 2022.

Replacement Postal Votes

If you lose or spoil your postal vote, we can issue a replacement from Friday 26 April until 5pm on Thursday 2 May