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Sefton Council is urging residents to ensure they are ready for the 2023 Local Elections.

The Election Act 2022 has introduced new requirements for those who want to vote in person at polling stations, meaning people will need to bring valid Photographic Identification with them before receiving a ballot paper.

Accepted ID

Passports, driving licences and parking Blue Badges, along with older and disabled people’s bus passes are among the types of photo ID people can show to be allowed to vote.

People who don’t have any of the required forms of photographic ID can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate.

Local elections are set to take place on Thursday May 4th across all of Sefton Borough’s 22 Wards.

Keen to ensure no-one misses out on their democratic right to vote, Sefton Council has launched the high-profile, Borough-wide ‘IDeal Time’ campaign.

‘IDeal Time’ ads will be appearing on high streets and public transport sites across Sefton to help people prepare for the changes.

No cases of voter fraud

Cllr Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Resources, said: “New requirements for people to be able to vote at polling stations are said to help ensure added election security, although in Sefton we have never had to investigate a case of voter fraud

“We want to ensure these changes don’t result in anyone missing out on their right to have their say.”

The introduction of photo ID in polling stations represent some of the biggest changes to the election process in decades.

New rules

Cllr Lappin continued: “On election day, we will see thousands of people visit their local polling station and have their say on who they want to see representing their communities on Sefton Council.

“We want to do everything we can so that nobody is turned away as a result of these rule changes.

“The new rules state that if you do not have a valid photo ID when you go to vote in a polling station, then staff will not be able to give you a ballot paper and you cannot vote until you can show valid photo ID.”

Anyone without a valid photo ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate up to six working days before the election.

Alternatively, voters can still apply to vote by post as photo ID is not required for any electors who choose to vote this way.

Register

Cllr Lappin added: “The most important thing to do first is to make sure you are already registered to vote.

“Most people will be registered but if you have moved home, you may need to update your details on the electoral register.

“If you don’t have ID and still want to vote in person then you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

“We expect to see a significant upturn in applications for postal votes following these changes and Sefton Council’s dedicated elections team are preparing for additional demand.

“Your vote matters and we encourage everyone over the age of 18 to take the opportunity to have their democratic say.”

Monday 17th April deadline

People not already registered to vote, must register before Monday 17th April 2023 so they can take part in the May elections. 

The deadline for receipt of all postal vote applications is Tuesday 18^th April 2023

You can find more information about the upcoming elections and the rule changes here.

Sefton households with pre-payment gas or electricity meters that have not used their October and November Energy Support Scheme vouchers to claim payments, can get them reissued even though they have expired.   

Reissued

People with October and November vouchers that are past their expiry dates need to contact their energy supplier and ask for the vouchers to be reissued to them. Reissued vouchers will be valid for three months from the expiry date.

Those with prepayment meters who haven’t received the vouchers through the national Energy Support Scheme also need to contact their energy companies.

Every household

Every household in Britain is receiving £400 through the national Energy Support Scheme.

The majority, which pay their energy bill by direct debit and have been getting their bills reduced of their accounts credited automatically. Those with pre-payment meters for their gas or electricity should have received vouchers in the post or via email.

However, the BBC has reported that 19% of vouchers issued for October and in November have not been redeemed meaning almost one in five households may be missing out on vital payments.

Important

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said: “Households with prepayment meters are already charged more per unit for their energy than those that pay by direct debit so It’s important they take advantage of the support that’s available.

“I would urge anyone in Sefton who has out-of-date vouchers or who has not yet received their vouchers to contact their energy suppliers straight away.”

Most suppliers are sending out the vouchers, valid for 90 days, to arrive in the post by the 17th of each month. The vouchers can be cashed at Post Offices or other locations such as PayPoint shops.

Afraid

Cllr Hardy added: “I know that even with this support, sadly there are people in our Borough afraid to heat their homes because of the size of their heating bills and would remind them about the network of Sefton Warm Spaces they can go to without the fear of what they are spending on gas and electricity.”

Details of Sefton’s warm spaces, including when they are open and where they can be found are here.    

People in Sefton struggling with the Cost of Living crisis can find advice and support at:

• www.sefton.gov.uk/cost-of-living
• www.sefton.gov.uk/seftonsupporthub;

National information is available at https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk.

As part of its support for Race Equality Week, Sefton Council is encouraging the Borough’s employers and their employees to break down the barriers to race equality in the workplace.

Starting today and running to Sunday 12^th February, Race Equality Week encourages organisations to make small, achievable changes in order to tackle race inequality within their workforce.

A study by TUC has shown that two in five workers of an ethnic minority in the UK reported experiencing racism at work in the last five years and one in seven reported facing unfair criticism. Race Equality Matters, who run the annual campaign, are urging organisations to commit to supporting the anti-racism effort.

To support workplaces and end this waste of talent and opportunity, Race Equality Matters have developed a five-day challenge. Each day, people are asked to take five minutes to self-reflect about their own behaviours and attitudes. On the final day, they are asked to make a set of personal promises that will help pave the path to equality.

Sefton Council, 2.24% of whose workforce consider themselves to be an ethnic minority, is encouraging its own employees and organisations and companies across the Borough to take part in the challenge as it aims to enhance the diversity of its workforce.

A series of short videos, filmed by members of the Council’s Executive Leadership Team will be released across the week to showcase the importance of self-reflection and the steps that Sefton Council has taken and will take to tackle race inequality within its own workforce.

Sefton Council Chief Executive Dwayne Johnson, said:
“The Council is proud to be supporting Race Equality Week and we encourage those who live and work in Sefton, where 4% of residents consider themselves to be an ethnic minority, to take time to reflect on how they can support race equality within their own lives.

“Change starts with self-reflection, and we will continue to make visible changes to make our workplace and Borough an inclusive and diverse place in which to live and work.”

People can find out more about Race Equality Week and how they can get involved, at https://www.raceequalitymatters.com/5-day-challenge/ 

To watch the short videos, people can visit Sefton Council’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/seftoncouncil, Twitter or Facebook pages throughout the week as a new video will be added each day. You can see the first video, featuring Sefton Council’s Chief Executive, Dwayne Johnson, below.