April 2025 Your vote is your voice! Shape your community’s future, choose who makes decisions on the issues you care about and make your voice heard! We've put together this special edition of our 'Connect Me' newsletter to help you understand why voting is so important, make the most of your vote and learn about the different ways to vote. 
When are the Devon County Council elections happening? The Devon County Council elections will take place on Thursday 1 May 2025. Sixty council seats in 58 divisions (two areas, Exmouth and Broadclyst each have two elected members) will be decided, and the results will determine the new council’s priorities and the delivery of vital local services. The votes will be counted on Friday 2 May 2025, and you will be able to follow the results on our democracy website. Why should I vote? By voting in the Devon County Council elections, you are choosing the person who will use their local knowledge to stand up for the issues most important to you, the needs of your community and help bring about the changes you want locally. You will be voting for someone who will have a say in the priorities for the future of Devon and can help Devon County Council make decisions on key services including education, roads, social care for vulnerable adults and children as well as the local environment and Devon’s countryside. Visit our website to find out what other services Devon County Council is responsible for. 
Who can vote? You can vote if you are: - registered to vote
- 18 years old or older on the day of the election
- registered at an address in Devon
- a British, Irish, or qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK
- not legally excluded from voting
Full eligibility qualifications are available on the Electoral Commission website. Are you registered to vote? If you want to take part in the Devon County Council elections, you must be registered to vote by Friday 11 April 2025. Registering is quick and easy - all you need is your National Insurance number. If you've never registered before, have moved house, or changed your name, visit the Government website before the deadline. 
How do I vote? Once registered, you can then decide how you are going to vote. There are three different ways you can vote. You can choose the way that suits you. You can either vote in person at the polling station, by post, or ask someone you trust to vote on your behalf (by proxy). Vote in person at a polling station - and don’t forget your photo ID! When you vote in person you go to the polling station allocated to you based on your address on the electoral register. This will be listed on your poll card, which you'll receive through the post a few weeks before polling day. To vote at a polling station, you will need to bring photo ID. You can check what forms of ID will be accepted on the Electoral Commission website. The deadline to apply for free voter ID is 5pm on Wednesday 23 April. Apply for a postal or proxy vote If you know that you won’t be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can vote by post or by proxy. You can apply for a postal vote on the Electoral Commission website. The deadline for this is 5pm on Monday 14 April 2025. You can also apply for a proxy vote on the Electoral Commission website before 5pm on Wednesday 23 April 2025. What if I have a disability? If you have a disability, your local district council’s Electoral Services Team can tell you about physical access, for example wheelchair ramps and disabled parking spaces, low-level polling booths, and any specific equipment you need. Every polling station must provide at least one large print display version of the ballot paper. If you can’t vote in person due to a disability, then you can apply to vote by post or vote by proxy. Easy read guides to voting are also available to help people with a learning disability, their families and support workers. Who can I vote for? It’s important to make an informed decision about who you want to vote for, so make sure you do your research about what the candidates in your area are standing for and what issues are important to them. Your ballot paper will list the candidates standing for your area and indicate whether they are representing a political party or standing as an Independent candidate. If you would like to see a list before polling day, a list of candidates for each area will be available on our website soon or you can use the post code checker on The Electoral Commission website. 
I'm a first time voter, what do I need to know? Voting for the first time is an exciting and important milestone, but we understand it can be daunting too. We’ve put together a video with our Director of Legal and Democratic Services, Maria Price (who is charged with ensuring that elections are delivered fairly and correctly) and some useful summary of top tips that will help you navigate the process and know what to expect. Frequently asked questions about voting To help you make the most of your vote in the upcoming Devon County Council election, we've compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. Learn about how to vote, voting anonymously, voting as a student, voter fraud and more. Visit our website to find out more and ensure your voice is heard on Thursday 1 May 2025. | 
