Bring your ID and have your say is the message as polls open in BCP Local Elections

The polls are now open at the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council local elections.

A total of 76 councillors will be elected from the 335 candidates standing in the local elections.

A total of 161 polling stations across 129 sites opened at 7am this morning and all will remain open until 10pm this evening.

Residents can find their polling station by visiting: bcpcouncil.gov.uk/pollingstations

Graham Farrant, BCP Returning Officer said: "These elections are really important. We want people to be able to have their say, and to influence the shape of the council, and therefore the shape of the policies and services they’ll enjoy locally."

To vote at the local elections residents should bring a form of photo ID with them to the polling station.

This is a new condition, introduced under the UK Government’s Elections Act.

Without a form of photo ID, residents won’t be able to cast their vote at the polling station.

Accepted forms of ID include a passport, driving licence and some bus passes. A full list of accepted ID is available at: bcpcouncil.gov.uk/voterID

Residents can also show expired ID, as long as they are still recognisable from the photo.

If a voter turns up at a polling station with no accepted photo identification, they will not be issued with a ballot paper and will need to return with an accepted form of photo identification.

The verification and counting of results takes place from 10am tomorrow (Friday 5 May) at the Bournemouth International Centre.

More information of the elections can be found at: bcpcouncil.gov.uk/election2023