Registering to vote

In order to vote in the elections, you must be on the electoral register.

Registering to vote is the first step in having a say about what goes on in our city. If people aren’t registered, they lose their voice, and come election time won’t be able to have their say about our city’s future.

Registering is simple, quick and can be done now on the Government website. The deadline to register to vote is the 17 April at 11:59pm.

If you’re already registered at your current address, you do not need to register again. However if you've recently moved or changed your name then you'll need to register again.

Different ways to Vote

People can vote in a variety of ways – in person, by post or by proxy which is where they appoint someone they trust to vote in their place.

You can apply for a postal or proxy vote by filling out an application form. Those forms are available on the Council’s website.

The deadlines for returning these forms to the Electoral Services Team is 5pm on 18 April for postal votes and 5pm on 25 April for proxy votes.

If you cannot print off a form then you can request a form by emailing electoral.services@coventry.gov.uk or by calling them on 024 7683 3034.

Voter ID: Have you got yours

Anybody voting in a polling station at the local elections will be required to show an accepted form of photographic ID. To see what ID is acceptable, please visit the Electoral Commission website.

Anyone who does not have an accepted form of ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) on the Government website. The deadline to apply for a VAC is 5pm on the 25 April.

Residents can also get help with applying for a VAC by visiting the Customer Service Centre in Broadgate House or any library in Coventry, where a member of staff will be able to help.

Across some of Coventry’s libraries, staff have access to photography equipment that they can use to take photos of residents, to use as part of the application. 

Accessible voting.

This year, the Council has made some changes to our polling station locations to ensure everyone with a disability can vote with ease and in comfort. 

This includes making all polling stations accessible by wheelchair and providing equipment like pencil grips and magnifiers.