Issue - meetings

The Director of Governance to present a report which provides information on the preparations for the forthcoming City Council elections, and steps taken to implement the relevant sections of the Elections Act 2022 that have come into force.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

The Director of Governance presented a report which provided information on the preparations for the forthcoming City Council elections, and steps taken to implement relevant sections of the Elections Act 2022 that had come into force.

The key change introduced by the Act was a requirement for every elector voting in person to present an approved photo ID before being issued with their ballot paper.  This would apply to the local government elections on 4 May 2023, bringing additional responsibilities to polling staff, as set out in paragraphs 18-22 of the report.  Due to the lateness of Regulations enacting the requirement, there was also a risk that many electors would be unaware of the change.  Electors possessing none of the forms of ID specified by Parliament (as listed in paragraph 8) could either request a postal vote, or apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) online or via a paper form available at council offices.

Action taken by the council to address the issue included:

-       specialist training for core staff working on the elections

-       a communications campaign

-       planned additional advertising paid for by central government

-       promoting postal voting as an alternative to a VAC

-       recruitment of additional poll clerks.

The Chair expressed approval of the steps being taken to meet these  additional challenges, adding that residents could contact electoral.services@york.gov.uk for information.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.