Don't forget to use your vote on Polling Day!
Postal Votes
If you have one and have not voted yet, it’s not too late - but you must get it to your local Returning Officer by 10 pm on Thursday:
- You could post it by Wednesday - as we try to capture every vote in the post system and pay for Royal Mail ‘sweeps’ at sorting offices Thursday evening;
- You can hand deliver it to any polling station in the District up to 10 pm on Thursday;
- You can hand it in at the District Council offices in Cirencester up to 10 pm on Thursday;
If you have a postal vote, you cannot vote at a polling station.
Voting in Person
Polling stations will be open from 7 am to 10 pm. Your polling card gives the address of your polling station. You do not need your polling card to vote.
How to Vote
Your ballot paper lists the four candidates. Next to the list there are two columns. You are able to vote for your first choice candidate in the first column and your second choice candidate in the second column. You must not put more than one mark (use an X or a tick) in each column.
Why first and second choices?
The supplementary vote system is being used for this election. Under this system, voters can vote for a first and a second preference choice. A candidate is elected if they receive more than 50% of the first preference votes. If no candidate reaches this threshold, only the two with the most first preference votes continue to a second round. At that stage any second preference votes for these two candidates are added to their first preference ones. The candidate with the most votes is elected.
As with other elections, there is no minimum turnout.
Candidate Information
The elections are being held across England and Wales in the 41 police areas. In Gloucestershire, there are four candidates standing for election. You can read their election addresses at www.choosemypcc.org.uk
The Result
The votes from 460 polling stations will be counted on Friday at 6 local count centres and the result will be announced at the count hub in Stroud by the Police Area Returning Officer, David Hagg. Results will be posted on www.stroud.gov.uk and other council websites - including www.cotswold.gov.uk - as soon as possible after declaration.
Help and Assistance
The District Council’s Elections Team is available to provide help and assistance throughout the election process. Information can also be accessed via the Council’s website. Contact details are as follows:-
Telephone Helpline 01285 623002
E-mail elections@cotswold.gov.uk
Fax 01285 623907
Website www.cotswold.gov.uk
CONTACTS
Communications Office
Cotswold District Council, Trinity Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1PX
Telephone: 01285 623 169