With the general election less than a month away Dorset residents are being urged to make sure they are prepared.

Elections for Members of Parliament  are taking place on Thursday, July 4, and residents will need to be registered by midnight on Tuesday, June 18, to cast their vote.

Residents can register online by visiting the dedicated GOV.UK register to vote web page. 

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Jonathan Mair, Director of Legal and Democratic at Dorset Council, said: “To have your say on who gets elected you must be registered to vote.

"The deadline for registering is midnight on Tuesday 18 June. If you have not yet registered to vote, have recently moved house or recently turned 18, you will need to register in order to be able to vote. It takes just five minutes to apply online.

“However you decide to vote, make sure you are able to have your say.”

For those voting in person at a polling station, a form of voter ID will also be required, as it was in the recent local elections.

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Accepted forms of ID include a passport, driver’s licence, and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person's bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card.

Voters will be able to use expired photo ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply for a free photographic ID online or by completing a paper form by 5pm on Wednesday, June 26.

For those choosing to vote by post an application will need to be made before 5pm on Wednesday, June 19.

To apply to vote by post, visit the GOV.UK apply for a postal vote web page.

people who apply to vote by post will receive a ballot paper in the post with a form asking for a signature and date of birth.

READ: LOCAL ELECTIONS 2024: Dorset Council election results

The postal forms need to be put back in the envelopes provided as soon as possible.

If the post deadline is missed, voters can take the envelope to a polling station within the parliamentary constituency or to the electoral services office, where they will be required to complete a form.

For anyone who can't visit a polling station on election day and are choosing to vote by proxy can nominate someone to vote on their behalf.

A reason for the decision to have a proxy vote will need to be given and an application will need to be made before 5pm on Wednesday, June 26.

To apply, visit the GOV.UK apply to vote by proxy web page.

In south Dorset the candidates are: 

  • Matt Bell - Liberal Democrats
  • Catherine Bennett - Green Party
  • Richard Drax - Conservatives
  • Lloyd Hatton - Labour
  • Giovanna Lewis - Independent 

In west Dorset the candidates are: 

  • Kelvin Clayton - Green Party
  • Chris Loder - Conservatives
  • Donna Lumsden - Labour 
  • Ed Morello - Liberal Democrats

For more information on registering to vote go to GOV.UK