Exeter local elections: Key dates and new voter ID rules confirmed

Exeter City Council has confirmed that local elections will take place on 7 May, following a dramatic government reversal on plans to postpone the polls.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had originally intended to delay elections in 30 council areas across England, including Exeter, to allow for a transition toward new "unitary" authorities.

However, following a legal challenge and widespread criticism from opposition parties, ministers abandoned the plan earlier this week. The decision means residents will now have the chance to vote on the council's record a year earlier than previously expected.

Key details for voters

One seat in each of Exeter’s 13 wards will be contested as part of the council’s usual four-year cycle.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday, 7 May. Under current laws, anyone voting in person must present an accepted form of photographic ID.

Important deadlines

To take part in the election, residents must adhere to the following cut-off dates:

• Monday 20 April: Deadline to register to vote.
• Tuesday 21 April (5pm): Deadline to apply for a postal or postal-proxy vote.
• Tuesday 28 April (5pm): Deadline to apply for a proxy vote.
• Tuesday 28 April (5pm): Deadline to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (Voter ID).

The original proposal to delay the vote had sparked a row over "democratic mandates," with local leaders and campaigners arguing that residents should not be denied their say during a period of administrative change.

The government’s U-turn followed reports that legal advisors warned the postponement could be successfully challenged in court.

Further information regarding the specific candidates and the locations of polling stations is expected to be published by the council in the coming weeks. Full details on how to register or apply for ID can be found on the Electoral Commission website.