Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner elections are coming up in Chelmsford

An election for the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Essex will be held in Chelmsford on Thursday 2 May 2024.

Electing a Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) make sure that local police meet the needs of the community. In Essex, the PCC also oversees Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.

The last PFCC election took place in May 2021. They are usually held every four years, but the 2021 election was postponed from 2020 due to the pandemic which is why it’s come around again sooner.

The candidates standing for election will be published on 8 April. Poll cards will be sent out around the 26 March – they may look different to previous years as they are now sent in envelopes.

Get your Photo ID ready to vote

Voters will need to show photographic ID to vote in the election.

Make sure you check in advance that you have a form of ID that will be accepted.

Some of the accepted photographic IDs includes:

• a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport
• a UK or EEA drivers’ licence
• some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card.

Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

If you haven’t got photo ID (or no longer look like the photo, or the name on your ID is different to your name on the electoral register), you can apply for a voter ID certificate by Wednesday 24 April.

The full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website, along with details of how to apply for the free ID. Visit electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.

How can I vote?

You need to register to vote by Tuesday 16 April. But if you registered to vote at the last election and haven’t moved house since, you don’t need to register again. Voters who wish to apply for free ID should first make sure they are registered to vote. It will only take five minutes to apply online.

If you want to vote by post, you need to apply for a postal vote by 5pm on Wednesday 17 April. Postal packs will be sent to the address requested approximately three weeks before the election day.

If you need a proxy vote (someone else to vote on your behalf), you need to apply by Wednesday 24 April.

Find out more about the upcoming election, including how to vote, on Chelmsford City Council’s website. This is your opportunity to choose who you want to represent you in your community.