Residents are reminded to make sure they are eligible to vote in Norfolk County Council election on May 7

On the same day, there will also be a by-election for the Caister South ward of the borough council which is currently vacant following the death of Councillor Malcolm Bird.

Nominations for the candidates have now closed and a full list of who is standing is available at www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/elections-and-referendums.

There have also been boundary changes to all nine Norfolk County Council divisions in the borough. Details about existing councillors and a map of the wards and which one you are eligible to vote in can be found at www.norfolk.gov.uk/boundary.

In order to vote, people need to make sure they are on the electoral register. The deadline for registering is 11.59pm on Monday, April 20, and it usually takes about five minutes to complete. Full information is available at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. You can also use this service to update your name and address if you have moved house. Alternatively, a paper form can be requested by contacting the GYBC elections team on 01493 846327 or by emailing [email protected].

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday, April 21, and information on how to do so can be found at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote. You can also apply to get someone else to vote on your behalf (a proxy) if you cannot go to the polling station in person. The deadline for applying for a proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday, April 28, and more information about how to apply is available at www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.

Postal voting packs will be sent out between 12 and six working days before election day and will include a pre-paid envelope for their return. If you miss the post, you can hand-deliver your postal vote and the postal vote of up to five other people at the Town Hall, Great Yarmouth, NR30 2QF. Postal votes can only be hand-delivered to this location during normal business hours and a declaration needs to be signed in order to be valid. It is important people do not put postal vote(s) in the Town Hall letter box because they will be rejected. 

On polling day, people can hand in postal votes to any polling station in the electoral area between 7am and 10pm. When doing so, voters must complete and sign a declaration that is available from the polling station staff. 

Electors are also reminded that when voting in-person at a polling station they will need to show an official form of photographic identification (ID). To check what ID is acceptable please see www.gov.uk/how-to-vote/photo-id-youll-need.

Information on where your polling station is located can be found at Find your polling station | Where Do I Vote?

If you do not have the necessary photo ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for free. A Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) is a document that displays your photo and proves your identity at a polling station. More information is available here www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate. The deadline for applying for a VAC is 5pm on Tuesday, April 28.

On the day of the election all polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm.

If you have any queries about voting or need advice, please contact the GYBC elections team on 01493 846327 or via [email protected]