There's still time to register to vote for your next police and crime commissioner
Thursday, 15 April 2021
You need to register to vote by 11:59pm on 19 April, if you want to vote for your next police and crime commissioner.
If you've recently moved or have never registered. Don't worry, you only need to do it once, per address.
About the election
The date of the election is 6 May and on the same day there will be a by-election for councillors in Flitwick (East), Houghton Regis (Parkside and Tithe Farm) and Leighton Buzzard (St George’s), which will be open only to voters living in those wards. There will also be a neighbourhood planning referendum in the Flitton, Greenfield and Pulloxhill area.
The police and crime commissioner election was postponed, last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year, a great deal of work and thought has gone into ensuring this is a COVID-secure election and voters will be able to exercise their right to vote in a free and safe manner.
All polling stations across the county have been risk assessed to ensure social distancing wherever possible. All measures possible will be in place to minimise the risk of transmission of infection. Regular sanitisation, face coverings, hand sanitiser, social distancing and ventilation measures will all be in place at polling venues. Government guidance encourages you to wear a mask and take your own pencil to vote, although pencils and face coverings will be available for anyone who needs one.
To further reduce the risks of COVID-19, please apply for a postal vote for the elections taking place this year. Completed applications must be received by 5pm on 20 April.
How to get a postal vote form
To get a form, you can either visit the Electoral Commission to download one, or call 0300 300 8008. You must be registered to vote by midnight on Monday 19 April.
"We're doing all we can"
Marcel Coiffait, Returning Officer for Central Bedfordshire Council, said:
Police and crime commissioner elections give the public a chance to choose someone to hold their local police force to account. They are an important part of the workings of local democracy and I encourage everyone eligible to vote and use this opportunity to influence policing in the county for the next four years.
Please be reassured that we are doing all we can, for anyone who turns up in person vote, to keep them safe. All of our polling stations will be COVID-secure and operate under the strictest of guidelines so everyone can take part in these important elections.