TWO by-elections are being held this week for potential councillors to be voted onto Ross-on-Wye Town Council.

There is a vacancy on the Ross East Ward and on the Ross West Ward with the by-elections being held on August 14.

However, there is some confusion among the electorate as the town council has not sent out polling cards, except to those who are registered for postal voting.

A number of people have called into the Gazette office enquiring if they can vote without a polling card.

The answer to this is yes, providing they are listed on the electoral register and voters must bring an acceptable form of photo ID to their polling station.

A spokesperson for Herefordshire Electoral Services explained that the legislation for parish by-elections is slightly different to general elections in that parish / town councils are asked if they require poll cards to be sent out to electors compared to all other elections and added: “Ross-on-Wye Town Council informed us that they did not require poll cards for these two by-elections.

“Electors can vote without poll cards, but they must be on the electoral register for the area contested to vote and must bring Photo ID to polling station.

“If electors are not sure of their polling station they can check on the council website at herefordshire.gov.uk/elections-1.”

A spokesperson for Ross Town Council said: “The council has not used poll cards for by-elections since 2016.

“It was reviewed in 2018 for a by-election, and it was agreed not to use poll cards. This precedent has been followed since, on the basis of cost.”

The minutes of the meeting in May 2018 states that comments were made and members felt that the further expense for the rate payers would be disappointing in issuing polling cards as there have already been three by elections in the previous three years.

The minutes added: “Members were aware of previous complaints that people did not know there was a by election despite leafletting and the Gazette giving very good coverage.

“It was the consensus that paying for further advertising was not deemed necessary and noted that it is regrettable that this expenditure for another by election would now be incurred.

“There was a view that the election was a democratic process and that local residents should be given the opportunity to vote for a candidate of their choice.

“The opinion was expressed that tax payer's money could be used better elsewhere.”

If you voted in the General Election in person, you will probably already know where your polling station is. If you are unsure of where your polling station is located here are some details:

If you are in Ross West, basically the communities of Archenfield and Ashfield, your polling station is Ross Bowling Club, Crossfields, Old Maid’s Walk.

If you are in Ross East, the Gloucester Road area / Chase Hotel area or in Hildersley the polling station is at the Larruperz Centre in Grammar School Close.

However, if you live in the Merrivale area or close to the Alton Road Industrial estate then the polling station will be Tudorville Community Centre on Walford Avenue. To vote in the by-election people need to take with them a photographic identification, the most commonly used includes a passport, which must be issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country; a photo driver's licence (including provisional) which must have been issued by the UK. or an EEA state; an European Economic Area photographic ID Card; a UK Biometric Residence Permit, including e-visas; an identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram or a Defence identity card or a blue badge.

The polling stations open between 7am and 10pm. The votes will then be counted at Blueschool House in Hereford and the result announced by the Returning Officer.