Safe Voting for May 2021 Local Elections

Published: 06 May 2021

Elections for Buckinghamshire Council, Town and Parish Councils and the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner are taking place on Thursday, 6 May.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm.

Buckinghamshire Council has provided the following information on the enhanced hygiene measures in place as a result of Covid-19.

Voters are asked to bring their own pens/pencils. There will be pencils available if voters forget their own, which they will need to take away with them once used.

Where possible, dependent on the venue, one-way entrance and exits will be in place.

Electors will be asked to social distance and that may mean that during busier periods electors may need to wait outside the polling station until some electors have left. All polling stations will be cleaned regularly through the day.

Unless you are exempt, masks will need to be worn by everyone coming into a polling station, including the people staffing it. If a voter arrives without a mask, there will be masks available for them to use at the polling station. Staff will be behind protective screens and don’t have to wear a mask when behind a screen, but they may choose to wear one.

Voters are asked not to attend their polling station if they have COVID symptoms or are required to self-isolate.

If you are unable to vote in person at your polling station on 6 May because you are self-isolating as a result of government or medical advice, and have not registered for a postal vote, you may apply for an emergency proxy vote on the Electoral Commission’s website.

A completed emergency proxy application form must be submitted to Electoral Services at Buckinghamshire Council before 5pm on 6 May, before the proxy can vote in the elector’s polling station on their behalf. Forms then need to be emailed to proxyvote@buckinghamshire.gov.uk and the emergency proxy’s email address must be provided.

Votes for the Buckinghamshire Council and Town and Parish councils are being counted on Saturday 8 May. Each of the four count venues have been made COVID-19 secure. Results will be publishes on Buckinghamshire Council’s website

The PCC election votes are being counted on Monday 10 May and the results will be published on Cherwell District Council’s website.