Mayoral by-election 2023

Photo ID

You must present one of the following forms of photographic identification to vote in person at a polling station:

• a passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
• a driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or an EEA state
• a biometric immigration document
• an identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• a Blue Badge
• a national identity card issued by an EEA state
• an Older Person’s Bus Pass
• a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
• an Oyster 60+ Card
• a Freedom Pass
• a Scottish National Entitlement Card issued in Scotland
• a 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
• a Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
• a Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• a Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• a War Disablement SmartPass or War Disabled SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• a 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• a Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• an Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
• a Voter Authority Certificate or a temporary Voter Authority Certificate

No Voter ID – apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate

If you do not have any of the above forms of photographic identification, you can apply to the Hackney Electoral Registration Officer for a free Voter Authority Certificate.

You must send us your completed application before 5pm on Wednesday 1 November 2023.

Apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate

If your photo ID has expired but still looks like you, it’s acceptable for voting, except for temporary Voter Authority Certificates, which are not valid on polling day.

You may need to provide further proof of identity if there is any discrepancy between your name as shown on your form of photographic identification and the name of the elector
that you claim to be.

Face coverings

Poll staff will ask you to remove any face covering worn whilst checking your photo ID. Privacy areas are available in all polling stations for this.

We must receive applications for new postal votes by 5pm on Wednesday 25 October 2023, to allow you to vote by post in this Mayoral by-election.

If you have registered for a postal vote, we’ll send you a pack to the address you provided starting from Wednesday 25 October 2023.

We send postal votes in batches depending on the date you applied. If you apply close to the deadline, you will not receive your postal vote until nearer election day.

If you have not received it by Friday 3 November 2023, email electoralservices@hackney.gov.uk or call 020 8356 3232.

Make sure the Returning Officer receives your postal vote or completed ballot before 10pm on Thursday 9 November 2023. The Returning Officer encourages everyone to return their vote early to avoid bringing it to a polling station on election day.

You can appoint someone else to cast your vote on your behalf if you wish. We must receive proxy voter applications by 5pm on Wednesday 1 November 2023.

New Proxy Vote application forms

New Proxy Vote application forms, introduced as part of the Elections Act changes by Central Government, will come into use on 31 October.

If you plan to apply for a proxy vote for the Mayoral by-election on 31 October or 1 November, you must use one of the new forms:

• application to vote by proxy in England for members of the armed forces (PDF 157kb)
• application to vote by proxy for overseas voters (PDF 113kb)
• application to vote by proxy in England based on disability (PDF 220kb)
• application to vote by proxy in England for Crown servants and British Council employees (PDF 157kb)
• application to vote by proxy in England at a particular election (PDF 108kb)
• application to vote by proxy in England due to employment (PDF 171kb)
• application to vote by proxy in England due to attendance on an educational course (PDF 196kb)
• application to vote by proxy in England for anonymous electors (PDF 155kb)

If you have any questions, call us on 020 8356 3232.

Emergency proxy voters

If you are unexpectedly taken ill or are suddenly called away for work purposes after 5pm on Wednesday 1 November 2023 and cannot go to vote in person, you can appoint an emergency proxy to vote for you.

You have to give a reason why you cannot vote in person and a doctor or your employer must support your application.

To apply for emergency proxy voting, visit Postal and proxy voting, or call 020 8356 3232.

We must receive your application by 5pm on Thursday 9 November 2023.

This year, electors can only vote for one candidate due to changes in election law that came into force earlier this year. You won’t have the option for a second choice. Mark a cross next to the person you want to be Mayor.

If you make a mistake on your ballot paper:

• don’t put it in the ballot box, speak to the polling staff
• polling staff will take your spoiled paper from you and put it in a secure envelope

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 9 November 2023.

You must be inside the actual polling station, or have been issued with a wristband indicating you are in the queue for polling, by 10pm in order to still get a ballot paper. If there’s a queue at this time, you’ll still be able to vote if you were in the polling station, or queue to get in, before the 10pm deadline.

The count takes place on Friday 10 November 2023.

We will post the results on our website, and tweet the results on X formally known as Twitter (follow us @hackneycouncil) as soon as it is confirmed.

A copy of the results will also be available to view at Hackney Town Hall.

Voter fraud can take many different forms. No-one, not even a partner or family member, is allowed to:

• pressure you into voting a certain way
• offer you something in exchange for your vote
• pretend to be you at the polling station
• complete your postal vote for you

Your vote is yours alone. Whether you vote at a polling station, by post, or via a proxy, it’s your decision. It’s illegal for anyone to influence you to vote against your will. Committing electoral fraud is a serious crime, and those who do it can face prison sentences.

If someone tries to take your vote, or the vote of anyone you know, call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit CrimeStoppers.