Elections for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) take place every four years. The Election was due to take place in 2020; however, due to COVID-19, these were postponed to 2021. This means that these elections will be held three years after the last election was held.
PCCs are elected representatives who oversee how crime is tackled in a police force area. Their aim is to cut crime and to ensure the police force is effective.
For more information regarding the election and about the candidates, visit www.choosemypcc.org.uk .
Ceredigion County Council is the lead authority – the Police Area Returning Officer (PARO), for the Dyfed Powys Police Area, which covers Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys.
Police and Crime Commissioner elections use the first-past-the-post system.You can only vote for one candidate, by putting a cross [X] in the box next to your choice
Each local authority will count their own votes and provide these to the PARO. Once all the results are collated, the PARO will declare who has been elected for the Dyfed Powys Police area and the result will be published on this website. This will be on Friday, 3 May 2024.
Who can vote in this Election?
For Police and Crime Commissioner Election, you must be:
- Registered to vote. If you’re not already registered, visit gov.uk/register-to-vote
- Eighteen or over on 2 May 2024.
- A British, Irish, EU, or qualifying Commonwealth citizen*.
*A qualifying Commonwealth citizen is someone who has leave to enter or remain in the UK or does not require such leave. The list of qualifying countries, British Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories can be found on the Electoral Commission website.
Student voters – only for Police and Crime Commissioner Elections
Higher education students may be eligible to register to vote at both their home and university/college address if they are in two different local authority areas.
They can vote in local elections in both areas as they would be voting in two separate polls. They will need to consider whether to register to vote in both areas and whether to make postal or proxy vote applications as necessary. More details can be found on the Electoral Commission website.
Who cannot vote?
The following groups are legally excluded from voting in Wales:
- A convicted person (though remand prisoners, as yet not convicted prisoners and civil prisoners can vote if they are on the electoral register).
- Anyone found guilty within the previous five years of corrupt or illegal practices in connection with an election.
Voter ID
2 May 2024 is the first date electors in Wales will need to show an acceptable form of photo identification before they are issued with a ballot paper at a polling station. This change has been made by the UK Government as part of the Elections Act 2022.
The list of acceptable photo ID is extensive and is available on the Electoral Commission website. Electors can still use a photo ID if it's out of date, as long as it looks like them.
Only original documents are acceptable – scanned images, pictures on mobile phones or copies will not be accepted.
If a Presiding Officer is in any way unsure a photo ID is of the person presenting it, they can refuse to give an elector a ballot paper.
Electors without any of the accepted forms of photo ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate online via the Gov.UK website, by post by requesting a printed form from electoralservices@ceredigion.gov.uk or 01545 570881.
The application deadline for a Certificate for 2 May election is 5pm on Wednesday, 24 April 2024.
The name on the photo ID shown at the polling station should be the same name the elector has used to register to vote. If the names are different, polling staff may ask to see additional documentation such as a marriage certificate, divorce papers, deed poll paperwork, a birth certificate, or a bill.
A Presiding Officer can also refuse to issue a ballot paper if they have reasonable doubt about the authenticity of any photo ID. They will advise the elector to return with an alternative form of accepted photographic ID. The Returning Officer will be made aware of any cases of suspected forged ID and can refer these to the police.
Any elector who is turned away from a polling station because they don’t have an accepted form of photo ID with them can return later on polling day. If they are then able to show an accepted form of photo ID, they will be issued with a ballot paper.
Any elector can ask to show their photo ID in a private area of the polling station. This will include electors who are wearing any kind of face covering. A mirror will be available for these electors to be able to fix their face covering before returning to the main part of the polling station to vote.
Where electors request that a female carries out an ID check, a female member of polling station staff will be asked to do this. Polling station teams will include female members of staff where possible or will be able to contact other election staff such as Polling Station Inspectors. These team members will be authorised to check photographic ID and on call to attend polling stations at short notice.
Proxy voters, who are authorised by another elector to vote on their behalf, will have to show their own accepted form of photo ID before they are allowed to make a proxy vote. They do not need to show ID for the person they are a proxy for.
Postal voters do not need to show photo ID as part of their application. They will continue to need to provide their signature and other identifiers as part of any absent vote application. Their signature will continue to be required on the voting declaration they send back as part of their completed postal voting pack.
Accessibility changes
The Elections Act 2022 has also made changes to the support and assistance available for disabled voters.
The main change is that disabled voters can now request the assistance of a companion. A companion can be anyone over the age of 18. They don’t need to be eligible to vote in the election.
Disabled voters may bring their own equipment or an assistance animal with them to the polling station.
Polling station staff cannot exclude a person who is registered as an elector or entered on the list of proxies from voting on the grounds of disability or mental capacity.
Registering to vote
Ensure that you are registered to vote – deadline Tuesday, 16 April 2024
- The deadline for voter registration – 11:59pm on Tuesday, 16 April.
- If you are already registered to vote at your property and have not moved since, you do not need to re-register to vote
- If you have moved home recently and have not registered to vote at your new address, you must do so by 11:59pm on Tuesday, 16 April
- You can check if you are registered to vote by contacting electoralservices@ceredigion.gov.uk
- Register by Tuesday, 16 April or you won’t be able to vote on Thursday 2 May.
- It takes less three minutes to register online It helps to have your National Insurance number to hand, you can find it on your payslip, P60, or letters about tax, pensions and benefits.
- Voters can also register at 01545 570881
Don’t leave registration until the last minute, just in case you have any problems.
Voting
Voting at a Polling Station – 2 May 2024
- Polling stations are open from 7.00am to 10.00pm.
- You can only cast your vote at the polling station you are registered at. The details will be printed on your poll card.
- You don’t need your poll card with you to be able to vote, but it does speed the process up.
- Make sure to check your poll card for any changes to your usual polling station location
- Busy times in polling stations often include 7.00am to 9.30am, lunchtime, 3.30pm to 4.30pm and 6.00pm to 8.00pm.
- Trying to avoid peak times may mean you don’t have to wait as long.
- The new legal requirement to check photo ID may mean you have to wait longer than usual to be issued with a ballot paper. Polling station staff will keep any queues moving as quickly as possible.
- If you are queuing to vote at a polling station by 10.00pm you will still be able to vote, as long as you are able to show an accepted form of photo ID.
- If you go to your polling station without an accepted form of photo ID you will not be allowed to vote. However, you will be able to go back before the polls close at 10.00pm with a different form of accepted photo ID.
In order to vote at a Polling Station, you must show photo ID to vote at this election. For further information regarding voter ID, see below.
Voter ID – deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate - 5.00pm, Wednesday, 24 April 2024
- From 2023, voters in Wales will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections. This will apply to:
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections
- UK parliamentary by-elections
- Recall petitions
- UK General elections.
- If you don't have accepted photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
- You can apply online, and will need your National Insurance Number and a digital photo that meets the application guidelines (similar to a passport photo)
- You can apply by post by requesting an application form from electoralservices@ceredigion.gov.uk and sending it back with a printed photo that meets the application guidelines
- Deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate – 5.00pm on Wednesday, 24 April
- If you go to your polling station without an accepted form of photo ID you will not be allowed to vote. However, you will be able to go back before the polls close at 10.00pm with a different form of accepted photo ID.
- You only need to show one form of accepted photo ID to be able to vote.
- Your photo ID needs to be the original version, not a photocopy, app or a photo on a phone.
- You can find the list of accepted forms of photo ID here, on the Electoral Commission website or by contacting us electoralservices@ceredigion.gov.uk or 01545 570881
- The name on the photo ID you show at the polling station should show the same name you have used to register to vote. If the names are different, polling station staff may ask you to show additional documentation such as a marriage certificate, divorce papers, deed poll paperwork, a birth certificate, or a bill.
- You can ask to show your photo ID in a private or screened-off area of the polling station if you prefer.
- If you are wearing any kind of face covering:
- The polling station staff will ask you to show your face to check that it matches your photo ID.
- A private or screened-off area of the polling station will be available for you to remove your face covering
- A mirror will be available for you to be able to fix your face covering back before returning to the main part of the polling station to vote.
- You can request that a female member of polling station staff carries out your ID check.
- Polling station teams will include female members of staff where possible or will be able to contact other election staff such as Polling Station Inspectors to come to the polling stations at short notice. If this is the case, you may have to wait for a short period until they arrive.
- In certain circumstances, it is possible to apply for a Temporary Voter Authority Certificate.
Please contact electoralservices@ceredigion.gov.uk / 01545 570881 urgently and no later than 5.00pm on Thursday, 2 May 2024 if you think you need a Temporary Voter Authority Certificate.
Postal voters – deadline to apply, 5.00pm, Wednesday, 17 April 2024
- The deadline to apply for a postal vote – 5.00pm on Wednesday, 17 April.
- Postal vote applicants must already be registered to vote. Forms can be downloaded from the Gov.UK website or telephone 01545 570881
- Only postal votes which arrive back by 10.00pm on polling day will be counted.
- Forgot to send your postal vote back in time? Completed and sealed postal vote packs can be dropped into any polling station in the same voting area on polling day, but ideally to your local polling station. In addition, you can hand in your postal vote at Neuadd Cyngor Ceredigion, Penmorfa, Aberaeron SA46 0PA.
- If you hand in your postal vote at any polling station or at Neuadd Cyngor Ceredigion, you will have to complete a form and you will be able to submit your own postal vote, and vote up to five more.
- Lost your postal vote or it didn’t arrive? Replacement packs can be issued from Friday, 26 April until 5.00pm on 2 May 2024.
- Replacement postal ballot packs will only be issued in person at Neuadd Cyngor Ceredigion, Penmorfa, Aberaeron, Ceredigion SA46 0PA.
- Phone in advance if you require a replacement postal ballot pack
- You will need to bring proof of identification: one photographic ID such as a passport or driving licence, or two pieces of ID which confirm your name and address such as a bank statement, utility bill or official letter.
Proxy voters – deadline to apply, 5.00pm, Wednesday, 24 April 2024
- The deadline to apply for a proxy vote – 5.00pm on Wednesday, 24 April.
- A proxy voter is someone you trust who you appoint to vote on your behalf.
- You must already be registered to vote to make a proxy application. Forms and full details on eligibility can be found on the Electoral Commission website
- Your proxy must be eligible to vote in the election and will need to be able to vote in person at your polling station, or need to apply to cast their proxy vote by post. They will receive a letter or poll card at their address giving them the necessary details.
- Proxy voters, who are authorised by another elector to vote on their behalf, will have to show their own accepted form of photo ID before they are allowed to make a proxy vote. They do not need to show ID for the person they are a proxy for.
- Postal voters are not eligible to apply for a proxy vote.
- Emergency proxy votes may be available from after the proxy deadline until 5.00pm on 2 May 2024 but only under specific extenuating circumstances, find details on the Electoral Commission website or 01545 570881
Emergency Proxy voters – apply after 5.00pm, Wednesday, 24 April 2024 but before 5.00pm, Thursday, 2 May 2024
- Emergency proxy votes may be available from after the proxy deadline until 5.00pm on 2 May 2024 but only under specific extenuating circumstances, find details on the Electoral Commission website or 01545 570881
- Emergency Proxy voters, who are authorised by another elector to vote on their behalf, will have to show their own accepted form of photo ID before they are allowed to make a proxy vote. They do not need to show ID for the person they are a proxy for.
For candidate and agent queries relating to the PCC election, please go to the Candidates and Agents page.