Lambeth announce by-election date for Vauxhall ward after councillor’s death

By Peter McNamara

Lambeth council has announced a by-election will be held on October 5 in the Vauxhall ward following the death of Councillor Liam Jarnecki.

Cllr Jarnecki died in August after a prolonged battle with cancer.

The council said nominations for candidates remain open until Friday.

There will be one or two differences for this election so here is everything you need to know:

Voter ID

This will be the first election in Lambeth since new national Voter ID rules were introduced. 

This means that voters must show photographic ID in order to vote but if you do not have any photo ID you can apply for a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’ 

The government have decided any of the following forms of ID are acceptable: 

• Passport issued by UK, a British Overseas Territory, EU/EEA state or Commonwealth country 
• Driving licence 
• Biometric Immigration Document 
• Pass Card 
• Defence Identity Card (Ministry of Defence Form 90) 
• Blue Badge
• National Identity Card
• Older Persons Bus Pass
• Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
• Oyster 60+ Card 
• Freedom Pass

 Voters

Anyone wishing to vote must have submitted their voter registration to the Electoral Registration  Officer (ERO) by Tuesday 19 September 2023

However, if you wish to vote by post or wish to make amendments or cancel existing postal or proxy voting arrangements, this must be done by 5pm on Wednesday 20th September 2023.

For people who do not have any photo ID and require a Voter Authority Certificate or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for this election, applications must reach the ERO by 5pm on Wednesday 27th September 2023.

If you need to vote by proxy, then your application must reach the registration officer by 5pm on Wednesday 27 September and emergency proxy applications by 5pm on Thursday 5 October 2023.

Nominations 

Nomination papers for candidates must be delivered to the Returning Officer Bayo Dosunmu by 4pm on Friday 8 September 2023. 

These papers may be obtained from the offices of the Returning Officer, Room G.01, Electoral Services, Lambeth Town Hall, 2 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1RW between 9am and 4pm.

Pictured top: Councillor Liam Jarnecki at Vauxhall City Farm (Picture: Lambeth council)