How to vote in the by-election for the St John’s division of Suffolk County Council on Thursday 24 April 2025.

A by-election is taking place for the St John’s division of Suffolk County Council on Thursday 24 April 2025. 

Registration

Registration to vote in this election closed 11:59pm on Friday 4 April 2025.

Polling Stations 

When you vote in person, you go to your allocated polling station, which is based on your address on the electoral register.  Your poll card, which is posted to you a few weeks before polling day, tells you where your allocated polling station is. It might not be the closest one to where you live and it might have changed since the last time you voted. You must go to your allocated polling station and not another one, because your allocated ballot paper(s) will be waiting for you there and not at a different polling station.

You can look up your allocated polling station by clicking the button below. Please note that the button will open in a new window.

 Find your polling station

A poll card does not need to be taken to the polling station to be able to vote. Make sure you have an accepted form of Photographic ID or your Voter Authority Certificate with you before you go to the polling station, because you cannot vote without it.

How to vote at your polling station

  • Go to your polling station between 7am to 10pm on polling day.
  • If there is a queue join the end and when it is your turn tell the polling station staff your name and address, or give them your poll card if you have taken it with you.
  • You will then need to show your photographic ID or Voter Authority Certificate to the staff. A private area will be available to have your ID checked if that is your preference. This will be a separate area within the polling station separated by a privacy screen.
  • Once staff are happy with your ID check, you will be given your ballot paper(s) and you need to take it over to the polling booth to cast your vote in secret.
  • Read the instructions on the ballot paper(s) carefully and then complete your ballot paper(s) using the pencil provided or your own pen / pencil.
  • Then fold your ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box provided.

Visit our page to learn about accessibility information.

Watch our guide to voting on YouTube.

Postal voting

If you are registered to vote and are not already a postal voter and you want to vote by post in the by-election on 24 April, you must submit a postal vote application online, or by using the application to vote by post form downloadable below. 

The deadline to apply for a postal vote for this election is 5pm on Monday 7 April 2025.

Anyone can apply to vote by post, you do not need to give a reason.

Proxy voting

If you are not able to go to your polling station and do not want to vote by post, someone else can vote for you. You select the person who you want to be your proxy and tell them how to cast your vote.

You can apply online at GOV.UK or use the Proxy vote Application form downloadable below.

If you are registered to vote, and are not already a postal voter, you can submit a proxy vote application form before the deadline at 5pm on Monday 14 April 2025.

For further details on postal and proxy voting, visit our page.

The elections are organised by Ipswich Borough Council. The Council can be contacted to find out if you are registered or with other queries such as about postal and proxy votes.

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