Herald Feburary 2023

Village Newspaper
343
February 2023
Register. It only takes five minutes to register online at https://www. gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id- voter-authority-certificate
CitizenCard proof of age & ID cards are available for any UK resident and are issued in 3 age categories: ‘18+’ for adults, ‘16-17’ for young people over 16 and ‘Under 16’ for children. All CitizenCards printed from 7th January 2021 onwards expire 3 years after issuing (rounded up to the end of the month card was printed on). These are another way of proving ID for voting but that have other uses for verifying identity and age. They cost £15 and are applied for on-
line. https://www.citizencard. com/apply-for-a-uk-id-card- online
COMMUNITY
WARM SPACES
Blaby District Council is teaming up with community partners to offer a host of ‘warm spaces’ for people who may be lonely, vulnerable or concerned about the cost of living.
The Council offices themselves on Desford Road, Narborough, will play host to a series of ‘warm space’ sessions in the Brooks Room starting on Wednesday 11 January from 9am to noon.
The Council has also provided grants to help neighbourhood organisations open up local centres as part of an initiative which will run throughout this winter. Some organisations have used the money to buy new equipment to facilitate the extra opening such as kettles and urns, while others have put it towards the cost
PHOTO ID NOW NEEDED FOR ELECTIONS
New government rules mean voters will be required to show an accepted form of photo ID if they want to vote at a polling station in this year’s District elections on Thursday 04 May.
The rules are now in force for all local, Police and Crime Commissioner and Parliamentary by-elections, as well as recall petitions.
An extensive list of acceptable forms of ID is available, including passports, driving licences, bus passes and blue badges. See the Electoral Commission website to check which forms of photo ID are acceptable at polling stations: Accepted forms of photo ID | Electoral Commission
The ID does not even necessarily have to be in date – as long as the photo still looks like the resident who wants to use it and
the name on the ID is the same name used to register to vote.
However, only original versions of the ID will be accepted, photocopies or images will not be allowed in order to cast a vote. Voters who do not have an accepted form of ID can apply for a free ‘voter authority certificate’ - a VAC - to allow them to cast their ballot.
People can apply online on the government website: Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
A recent digital photograph and National Insurance number will be needed to apply. The VAC will be valid for 10 years and must be applied for by 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.
People are also being reminded in order to vote they need to be on the Electoral
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IN THIS ISSUE OF YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
£250,000 pot at the
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finally accepted rob’in by nature 4 as war casualty 11 full panto report
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