Information for voters

Key information for 6 March by-election

Hamble & Netley Borough Ward by-election - Thursday 6 March 2025

Are you registered to vote?

To be able to vote in this election, you must be:

Updating your details

If you have moved home recently and have not registered to vote at your new address, you must do so by 11:59pm on Tuesday 18 February to be able to vote in this election. 

If you change your name, you can either register again or email [email protected].

Please note you will need to provide your National Insurance number when you register.

Register to vote

Photo ID required to vote at polling stations


The UK Government has introduced a new requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station. Please make sure you take a suitable form of photo ID with you. The most commonly used ID include:

  • Passport issued by the UK, an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or a Commonwealth country
  • Photographic driver’s licence issued by the UK, an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands
  • National identity card issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
  • Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
  • a PASS card (National Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
  • Blue Badge
  • a Defence Identity Card (MOD form 90)
  • Oyster 60+ Card
  • Concessionary travel pass funded by HM Government or local authority (such as Hampshire County Council Bus Pass; Disabled Person's Bus Pass, Welsh or Northern Ireland travel card).

Only original documents are accepted; scanned images or copies will not be accepted however expired documents are accepted if the photo is still a current likeness.

If you don't have an accepted form of photo ID

If you do not have any of the accepted photo ID, or your ID no longer looks like you, you will need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. This is a free photographic identification document specifically for the purposes of voting. You must be registered to vote to use this service.

Please note, you do not need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate if you are voting by post. Identification is only required if you intend to vote in person at a polling station.

Voters who do not produce a Voter Authority Certificates, or valid ID will not be allowed to vote on the day.

Your poll card will be issued around Thursday 6 February. Acceptable forms of identification will be listed on your poll card.

Accessibility at polling stations

If you are a disabled voter or require additional help, we offer a range of support to enable you to vote independently or with assistance.

Voting by post

If you would prefer to vote by post, please complete an online postal vote application form by 5pm on Wednesday 19 February.

Please apply as early as possible to allow time for it to be processed and for the postal vote to be issued. Once your postal vote is set up and the ballot papers are ready, you will receive a postal vote pack containing a WHITE coloured ballot paper. You do not need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate if you are voting by post.

If you are registered as a postal voter but would like to vote in person, you will need to cancel your postal vote before you can vote in person at a polling station. The deadline to cancel an existing postal vote is 5pm on Wednesday 19 February.

Postal votes will be issued on Thursday 20 February for those electors who set up their postal vote by Friday 31 January. If you set up your postal vote between Saturday 1 February and 5pm on Wednesday 19 February, your postal vote will be issued Tuesday 25 February.

Voting by Proxy

If you find that you won't be able to get to the polling station on polling day, and you have missed the deadline to apply for a postal vote (Wednesday 19 February), you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote for you. This is called a proxy vote and you must complete an application form by 5pm on Wednesday 26 February.

Please note that your proxy will need to vote at the polling station where you would have had to vote yourself.

Polling stations

Please read the information contained on your poll card about your polling station and the photo ID you will need to bring with you to vote on election day.

Health and safety measures at polling stations

The Returning Officer will closely follow any guidance issued nationally and we will put measures in place to ensure polling stations are safe places to vote.

Counting of votes

The verification and counting of votes will be held after the close of poll at 10pm on Thursday 6 March at Eastleigh House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh SO50 9YN. Entry to the Count will only be available to staff, candidates, and agents.

Other information