In Fenland, there will be an election for the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the Cambridgeshire Police area, and by-elections for two wards on Whittlesey Town Council.

• Voting in person at a polling station
• Returning your postal vote

Voting in person at a polling station

Go to the polling station on your poll card

Polling stations are usually in a public building like a school or village hall, but can be in all kinds of places, like pubs or mobile units. You can't vote at a different polling station, for example, near where you work. Your polling station will be on your poll card or you can enter your postcode on our Find webpage.

Remember your photo ID

It is now a requirement for voters to show photographic identification to vote at polling stations. You won't be able to vote without it. You can find out which forms of ID you can use on our Voter ID webpage.

Polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm

You can vote at any time within these times. Signs are placed outside and inside to show you where to go.

Polling station staff are there to help you

Usually there's one person in charge, called the Presiding Officer, and a couple of other people called Poll Clerks.

Staff at the polling station must confirm who you are

Tell the staff your name and address so they can check you are on the electoral register and eligible to vote. Polling station staff will check either paper copies of the electoral register or digital copies using an electronic device, such as an iPad. They will then ask to see your photo ID which they will also check to confirm it is acceptable.

You will be given your ballot paper

You will receive one ballot paper for the PCC election. Depending on where you live, you may also get a second ballot paper for the Whittlesey Town Council by-elections.

Time to vote!

You will be directed to a polling booth to cast your vote in secret. Read the ballot paper carefully and follow the instructions. If it's busy, you may have to wait for a free booth.

Clearly mark your ballot paper with an X next to the candidate you're voting for

Either use the pencils provided in the polling booth to mark your ballot paper or use your own pen or pencil if you prefer. Don't write anything else on the paper or your vote may not be counted. If you make a mistake, hand the ballot paper back to the polling station staff and they can give you a new ballot paper. When you've filled in the ballot paper, fold it in half and place it in the ballot box.

Your vote is yours and yours alone

Political discussion is not allowed inside and immediately around the polling station. You should go into the polling booth on your own and you do not have to tell anyone how you voted.

Tellers may ask you for the number on your poll card

They volunteer for candidates or parties and will be outside the polling station. They use the information to check who has voted, and to remind people who haven't voted, to do so. You don't have to give them any information if you don't want to.

Don't take photos inside the polling station

Electoral Commission guidance prohibits the taking of photos inside polling stations. But people are welcome to take photos outside polling stations. Share them on social media and encourage your friends and family to vote!

If you have a disability and can't fill in the ballot paper yourself

You can ask the Presiding Officer to mark the ballot paper for you. Or you can take someone you trust, like a parent or a friend, who is over 18, to help you vote. More information on accessibility at polling stations is available on our Accessibility at Polling Stations webpage.

If you need help

If you're not sure what to do, or need any help, just ask the staff at the polling station

Returning your postal vote

Changes to the law mean you need to complete and sign a postal vote return form if you hand-deliver your postal vote at a polling station or at the Fenland District Council offices at Fenland Hall in County Road, March. Any postal votes which are hand-delivered without the form being completed will be rejected. You can:

Return your vote via Royal Mail

The quickest and easiest way to return your postal vote is via Royal Mail in the pre-paid envelope provided.

Hand-deliver your vote to council offices

Go to Fenland Hall, County Road, March, and hand deliver your completed postal vote pack to a member of staff authorised to receive them and complete a postal vote return form (within office hours - 9am to 4pm). Please note, completed postal vote packs can no longer be posted in the letterbox at Fenland Hall as they will be rejected.

Hand-deliver your vote to a polling station

Hand your postal vote in at any polling station on polling day and complete a postal vote return form.

New limit on handing in postal votes

There will be a limit on the number of postal votes a person can hand in. They are only allowed to hand in five postal votes for other electors, plus their own (six total).

If a person hands in more than five postal votes for other electors, they must choose five only or all the postal votes (other than their own) will be rejected.

More information on the changes to postal vote handling is available at: Voters warned about new rules for handling postal votes ahead of May elections - Fenland District Council

• If you have any questions, please contact the Elections Team at Fenland District Council at: elections@fenland.gov.uk or call 01354 654321.
• More information on the elections taking place on 2 May is available on our Elections 2024 webpage.