With less than a month until the EU referendum, this helpful release from the council should make things a little clearer. Ed
A referendum is being held on Thursday, 23 June and on that day, voters in the UK will go to the polls to decide whether Britain should leave or remain in the European Union.
Poll cards for the EU Referendum will be popping through your letterbox from 20 May so make sure you look out for them. You will only be registered to vote and receive a poll card if you are registered as an elector.
Do I need to register to vote in the EU referendum?
If you have never registered to vote before, you need to make sure you have done so before 7 June.
Registering can be done online
All UK, Irish and Commonwealth citizens who are already registered to vote or recently registered will be eligible to vote at the EU Referendum and will be able to cast their vote. You do not need to re-register.
If your circumstances change, for example you move home between now and the EU Referendum registration deadline on 7 June, then you will need to re-register at your new property.
If you need to check that you are on the Register of Electors then please call Isle of Wight Council on (01983) 823380. You will need to quote your full name and address.
Who can vote in the EU Referendum?
- British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens over 18 who are resident in the UK
- UK nationals living abroad who have been on the electoral register in the UK in the past 15 years.
- Members of the House of Lords and Commonwealth citizens in Gibraltar will also be eligible, unlike in a general election.
How do I vote?
In person
If you have registered to vote, you’ll be sent a poll card telling you when voting takes place and where you should go to vote on 23 June. On that day, when you go to your polling station you will be given a piece of paper with the referendum question on it. You then go to a booth, which will have a pencil in it for your use. You then put a X in the box which reflects your choice and put the paper into a ballot box.
By post
If you are already registered as a postal voter then you will receive your vote through the post. If you cannot or do not wish to attend your polling station, you can still vote by post by filling out the application form available at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk
You will need to apply by 5pm on Wednesday 8 June to vote by post in the EU referendum.
By proxy
If you are unable to vote in person or by post, you can choose to have someone you trust cast your vote for you. In addition, the person you wish to appoint as your proxy can only act as proxy if they are 18 (16 in Scotland) and are registered individually.
A person cannot be a proxy for more than two people at any one election or referendum, unless they are a close relative. In England, Scotland or Wales, you will need to download and complete a form to apply to vote by proxy. There are different forms depending on the reason that you need a proxy vote, at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk
If you want to vote by proxy in the EU Referendum, you will need to apply by 5pm on Wednesday 15 June.
What is the poll card for?
The card will tell you when voting takes place and where you should go to vote on 23 June.
Where can I vote?
The poll cards will notify voters which polling station they have been allocated, so please check your poll card when it arrives.
For this referendum, there are three changes from those polling stations used for the recent Police and Crime Commissioner elections and these are:
- Hunnyhill Primary School will be replaced by The Restaurant, at the Isle of Wight College, Medina Way (parking is available on the left as you enter the college site)
- Summerfields Primary School will be replaced by The Seminar Room at the Earl Mountbatten Hospice, Halberry Lane (The Seminar Room is on the left as enter the Hospice grounds)
- Newchurch Sports Pavilion will be replaced by Newchurch Parish Hall, High Street, Newchurch.
Image: bagelmouse under CC BY 2.0
