Voters are set to go to the polls in York’s Heworth ward for a by-election on Thursday (15 January).
One council seat is up for grabs in the ward after Labour incumbent Cllr Ben Burton announced he was standing down due to leaving York for work.
The ruling Labour group is looking to hold the seat, fending off challenges from five other candidates, to defend its majority of one on the 47-member council.
Labour currently has 24 seats on the council, with the Liberal Democrat opposition holding 19, the Conservatives three and one sitting as an independent.
The candidates standing for election
Six candidates are vying for votes from Heworth voters when voters go to the polls on Thursday.
They are:
- Anna Perrett, Labour.
- Ben Ffrench, Green.
- Emma Dolben, Conservative.
- Emma Hardy, independent.
- Ian Eiloart, Liberal Democrats.
- John Crispin-Bailey, Reform.
Polling station hours and locations
The polls are set to open at 7am on Thusday and voters have until 10pm to cast their ballots.
The locations of polling stations are:
- Bell Farm Social Hall, 27 Roche Avenue, York, YO31 9BB
- St. Paulinus Church, The Church Room, Monkton Road, York, YO31 9AX
- St. Wulstan’s Church, Fossway, York, YO31 8SQ
- The Avenues Children’s Centre, The Oak Room, Sixth Avenue, York, YO31 0UT
- The Centre @ Burnholme, Explore York Library, Mossdale Avenue, YO31 0HA
- St. Aelred’s Community Centre, 216 Fifth Avenue, Tang Hall, YO31 0PN
Holy Trinity Church polling station is unavailable for this election and voters who typically cast ballots there should go to The Centre @ Burnholme, Explore York Library instead.
Voter ID
Voters will be required to show a valid and acceptable form of ID to cast their ballots.
Accepted IDs include passports, photocard driving licences, Blue Badges, some travel cards and other government-issued documents such as eVisas.
People whose IDs are refused on polling day will be asked to return with a valid document.
More information about voter ID rules and the full list of accepted documents is available here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id
Postal votes
Postal vote packs can be hand-delivered to the council’s West Offices headquarters during normal working hours.
People can also take them to polling stations until 10pm on election day.
Return forms must be completed by anyone who is voting by post and more information is available here: https://www.york.gov.uk/elections-1/vote-post/3
The deadline for application for postal voting closed on Tuesday, December 30.
Emergency proxy votes
People who have a medical emergency, cannot vote in person due to work, or whose IDs were lost, stolen or damaged can appoint an emergency proxy.
Applications can be made by calling: 01904 551007 or emailing: [email protected].
They must be made by 5pm on polling day.
What happens after the polls close and results
The counting of votes is set to begin shortly after polls close at 10pm.
Officials are hoping to announce the results around midnight but this could change.
The results are set to be published here.
