Costessey Town Council (Old Costessey Ward) By-Election - 12 November 2026

Notices and results

Register to vote at this election

Voter ID

Accepted forms of photo ID

You need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in England.

You can use any of the following accepted forms of photo ID when voting at a polling station.

You only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version, not a photocopy.

International travel

A passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British Overseas Territory
A passport or passport card issued by an EEA state, or a country whose citizens are Commonwealth citizens

Driving and Parking

A photocard driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
A Blue Badge

Local travel

Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government
Disabled Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government
60+ London Oyster Photocard funded by Transport for London
Freedom Pass
a National Entitlement Card issued by a local authority in Scotland
60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

Proof of age

Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)

Digital ID

Veterans' card
e-visa

If you don't have an accepted form of photo ID

You can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate, if:

you don't have an accepted form of photo ID
you're not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you
you're worried about using an existing form of ID for any other reason, such as the use of a gender marker

How to vote at this election

Voting in person

Most people vote in person at their local polling station.

If you are not able to attend the polling station on polling day, you can apply to vote by post or by proxy.

Voting by post

If you are not already registered to vote by post and wish to apply in time for this election, please visit www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.

The deadline for new postal and postal proxy applications and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes is 5pm on Wednesday 28 October 2026.

Postal voting packs are mailed out about 2 weeks before polling day and include a prepaid envelope for their return. Your postal vote must be returned before the deadline on polling day, or it will not be counted.

If you miss the post, you can hand deliver your postal vote and the postal vote of up to 5 other people at the locations below during the stated times. You must complete and sign a declaration form when handing in postal vote(s). If the declaration form is not completed the postal vote(s) will be rejected.

Postal votes can be hand delivered to our council offices at The Horizon Centre, Peachman Way, Broadland Business Park, NR7 0WF. Postal votes can only be hand delivered to this location during normal business hours. Postal votes must be handed in and a declaration signed in order to be valid. Please do not post your postal vote(s) through the on-site letter box as they will be rejected.
On polling day, you can hand in postal votes to any polling station in the electoral area between 7am and 10pm. You must complete and sign a declaration, which will be available from the polling station staff.

Voting by proxy

If you are not able to vote in person at a polling station and you do not wish to vote by post, you can appoint someone else to vote for you.

Proxy voting means asking someone to vote on your behalf at the polling station. A proxy vote counts the same as any other vote and is subject to the same security and secrecy provisions.

If you apply for a proxy vote you will have to provide a reason, for example you may be working or studying away from home or on holiday. You will need to nominate someone to vote on your behalf according to your wishes.

To apply, please visit www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote. The deadline to apply to vote by proxy in this election is 5pm on Wednesday 4 November 2026.