On Thursday 2 May, voters in Somerset and the rest of the Avon and Somerset Police Area will vote to elect their new Police and Crime Commissioner. The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) oversees your local police force and ensures they are prioritising what matters to you. The Avon and Somerset Police Area includes Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, South Gloucestershire Council and Somerset Council. The post is currently hold by Tory Mark Shelford who took over from the Independent Sue Mountstevens. Labour were in second place last time round and this year could be expected to grab the post. The Labour Candidate is former MEP Clare Moody.
The candidates standing in the Police and Crime Commissioner election are:
- Benet Allen, Liberal Democrats
- Katy Grant, Green Party
- Clare Moody, Labour and Co-operative Party
- Mark Shelford, Conservative Candidate – More Police, Safer Streets
The full list of candidates including candidate statements can be viewed at www.choosemypcc.org.uk from 9am on 10 April or residents can call 0300 131 1323 to request a booklet to be sent to them.
To vote residents must be on the electoral register. If you are not on the electoral register at your current address, you must register to vote by midnight on Tuesday 16 April. It takes just five minutes to apply online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. If you have any queries, you can call Somerset elections office on 0300 123 2224.
Voters have a range of options for casting their ballot – in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April, and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on 24 April.
Residents without accepted photo ID wishing to vote in person will also need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.