Swainsthorpe Neighbourhood Planning Referendum - 10 December 2026
In February 2024 South Norfolk Council designated the Swainsthorpe Neighbourhood Area, for the purposes of developing a Neighbourhood Plan (in accord with the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended)), following an application from Swainsthorpe Parish Council. The Neighbourhood Area follows the civil parish boundary and the Parish Council is the relevant body for preparing the Neighbourhood Plan.
A local referendum will be held on Thursday 10 December 2026 in order to determine whether the residents of Swainsthorpe support the proposed Swainsthorpe Neighbourhood Plan.
More detailed information regarding the Neighbourhood Plan can be found on our website at the following link: Swainsthorpe Neighbourhood Plan.
Please see further information below.
Applications to register to vote at this referendum must be made by midnight on Tuesday 24 November 2026. You can register online by visiting www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. You can also use this service to update your name and re-register if you have moved house.
The deadline for new postal and postal proxy applications and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes is 5pm on Wednesday 25 November 2026.
The deadline for new proxy vote applications (not including postal proxy) is 5pm on Wednesday 2 December 2026.
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for use in this referendum is 5pm on Wednesday 2 December 2026.
The deadline to apply for an emergency proxy at this referendum is 5pm on Thursday 10 December 2026. Please note that there are specific criteria that apply to eligibility for an emergency proxy vote.
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)
Other government issued documents
- Biometric Immigration Documents, including eVisas
- Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
- Ministry of Defence Form 100 (HM Armed Forces Veteran Card)
- National identity card issued by an EEA state
- Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland
- Voter Authority Certificate
- Anonymous Elector's Document
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
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 25 November 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 at the polling station 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 referendum is 5pm on Wednesday 2 December 2026.