With only a few days left until Reigate & Banstead voters go to the polls on 5 May, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is urging voters to get ready to vote in the local elections.

Those voting in person will be sent a poll card in the run up to polling day which will tell them where they should go to cast their vote.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 5 May. Staff will be on hand at polling stations to assist voters with any questions about filling out their ballot paper.

There will be some public health measures in place at polling stations to make sure polling stations are safe places to vote, such as screens, hand sanitiser and regular cleaning. To help keep themselves and others safe, we ask voters to:

• wear a face covering inside the polling station
• use the hand sanitiser provided when entering and leaving the polling station
• keeping a safe distance from others
• bring your own pen or pencil to mark your ballot paper, if possible.

Voters who have opted to vote by post must return their postal ballot pack by 10pm; they can hand it in at their polling station if they don’t have time to return it by post.

Mari Roberts-Wood, Electoral Registration Officer for Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, said: “Make sure you check the information on your poll card in before going to vote, as your polling station might have changed since the last election. You do not need your poll card to vote, but we encourage you to bring it with you to make the process quicker and more efficient. Please also follow our safety measures to keep voters and our staff safe.”

If you are self-isolating or become unwell as a result of Covid-19, you don’t need to lose your vote. Voters have up to 5pm on polling day to apply for an emergency proxy so that someone you trust can vote on their behalf by calling our elections line on 01737 276794 or email elreg@reigate-banstead.gov.uk to request an application form.

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