Are you ready to vote on May 6?

Make sure you’re ready to have your say on 6 May. 

With a couple of weeks left until voters in the South Hams go to the polls on 6 May, South Hams District Council is urging voters to get ready to vote.

Across the South Hams the public will be taking to the polls to vote for a Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall (find out about the candidates here) as well as to elect one councillor to Devon County Council for each of the seven South Hams County divisions (find out about the candidates here).

In addition, there is a district council by-election in the Ivybridge West Ward (find out about the candidates here), and Neighbourhood Plan referendums for Aveton Gifford, South Huish, Strete, Kingswear and Kingston.

Polling stations will be safe places to vote on 6 May. People voting in person are encouraged to keep themselves and others safe by:

• wearing a face covering
• bringing their own pen or pencil
• cleaning their hands when entering and leaving the polling station
• keeping a safe distance
• voters should not attend the polling station if they have symptoms of Covid-19, or if they have been asked to self-isolate.

Anyone who develops symptoms, or is asked to self-isolate shortly before polling day, has up to 5pm on polling day to apply for an emergency proxy vote. This allows them to nominate someone they trust to vote on their behalf.

Andy Bates, Electoral Registration Officer for the South Hams said: “Your poll card will tell you where to find your polling station. Make sure you check the information on your polling card, as your polling station might have changed since the last elections. You do not need your poll card to vote, however, we encourage you to bring it with you to make the process quicker and more efficient.

“Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 6 May. 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.”

Ailsa Irvine, Director of Electoral Administration and Guidance at the Electoral Commission, said: “If you are voting in person, make sure you remember to bring your face covering and a pen or pencil with you. At the polling station, help keep yourself and others safe by following the safety measures, including sanitising your hands and keeping a safe distance from others.

“If you are self-isolating or become unwell as a result of Covid-19, you don’t need to lose your vote. You will be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote so that someone you trust can vote on your behalf.”

For further information on how to apply for an emergency proxy, voters should contact the electoral registration team at South Hams District Council at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For further information on elections in their area, voters can visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter. This page will continue to be updated ahead of the polls.