Elections take place across Cambridge on Thursday 1 May for 12 councillors to represent the Cambridge divisions of Cambridgeshire County Council, and to elect a Mayor for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.  

There are also two by-elections for Cambridge City Council – in the East Chesterton and West Chesterton wards. 

Cambridge voters are being reminded that they will need to show one of the accepted forms of photo ID in order to receive a ballot paper and cast their vote in person at their polling station. 

A variety of different forms of photo ID are acceptable, including passport, driver’s licence, blue badge, older or disabled person’s bus pass, Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) card, the Voter Authority Certificate and many more. This year, anyone with an HM Forces Veteran card can use it for the first time. 

Original documents must be provided as photocopies or copies of images on mobile phones or other electronic devices will not be accepted. People can bring acceptable photo ID which has expired, so long as the photograph still resembles them. 

People arriving at the polling station without acceptable photo ID will be asked to leave the polling station and return with one of the acceptable forms of ID before a ballot paper can be issued to them.  

A separate area will be available for people who would like their ID viewed in private and anyone wishing for their ID to be checked by a female member of staff can request this. People wearing face coverings for any reason will be asked to remove them temporarily, but this can be done in private, or outside if they would rather not remove their mask inside the station. 

For the complete list of acceptable forms of ID visit voter ID in polling stations. 

For people who have lost, destroyed, damaged, or had their ID stolen after the application deadline, there will be a provision to appoint an emergency proxy for polling day. 

Voters who have applied for a Voter Authority Certificate by the deadline, but have not yet received it, can still apply for a temporary certificate for use at the 1 May polls. In both circumstances, electors should contact the council’s election team for further advice by emailing elections@cambridge.gov.uk or phoning 01223 457048. 

Polling stations will be open across Cambridge from 7am-10pm on Thursday, with the election count taking place the following day. Results are expected by Friday afternoon and will be posted on the council’s website and on social media. 

There are polling stations across every area of the city – residents’ poll cards indicate which polling station in their ward they should use. People do not have to take their poll card with them to the polling station, but it can save time if they do so. 

All polling stations are accessible to people with a mobility or visual disability and election staff will be on hand on Thursday to assist anyone with particular requirements or questions. Voters with visual impairments can request an appointment to use an electronic ballot paper reading device, known as a McGonagle Reader, so they can vote in secret.  Residents with queries about their polling station can contact the council’s Electoral Services team on 01223 457048.