The race is on for Worcester City Council elections

Local elections have officially begun, with candidates of all parties hoping to secure Worcester residents' votes on Thursday May 4.

Formal notices have been published for the City Council elections, marking the official start of the contests.

Voters will be going to the polls in 11 of the city's 15 wards, because the City Council currently holds elections in three out of every four years, with a third of councillors being elected each time.

Shane Flynn, Returning Officer for Worcester, said: "This is your chance to make your voice heard and decide who represents you on big issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Worcester, from housing and parks to bin collections.

"Time is running out to make sure you can take part in Worcester's local elections. If you're not registered before midnight on 17 April, you won't be able to vote, so please take five minutes to go to gov.uk/register-to-vote.

"If you do not want to cast your ballot in-person at one of our polling stations, now is the time to be going to www.worcester.gov.uk/elections to apply for a postal vote or for someone else to vote on your behalf as a proxy.

"New rules mean that voters will also need to show photo ID at polling stations before being given their ballot papers. A wide range of photo identification can be accepted, which most people will already have, including a passport, driving licence, immigration document and some travel passes, such as an older person's bus pass. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

"You can find the complete list and apply for free photo ID, if you don't have any of the documents on the list, at electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID."

Elections will be held on May 4 for councillors in the following wards: Arboretum; Bedwardine; Cathedral; Claines; Nunnery; St Clement; St John; St Peter's; St Stephen; Warndon Parish North; and Warndon Parish South.

There will not be elections this year in the Battenhall, Gorse Hill, Rainbow Hill or Warndon wards.

See the full list of candidates for the Worcester City Council 2023 elections.

Ailsa Irvine, Director of Electoral Administration and Guidance at the Electoral Commission, said: "If you're not registered by 17 April, you will not be able to vote in Worcester's elections on 4 May. Registering to vote only takes five minutes and can be done at gov.uk/register-to-vote.

"If you have recently turned 18 or moved home, it is particularly important to make sure you are correctly registered to vote.

"If you were registered to vote in the last election and your details have not changed, you don't need to take any action. If in doubt, you can check with the City Council at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 01905 722530.

"This year voters should also remember that they will need to bring photo ID to the polling station to be able to vote. Anyone who does not have an accepted form of ID can apply for free voter ID at electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID by 25 April."

People can choose to vote in a number of ways – in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 18 April, and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on 25 April.

Voters who do not have a suitable form of photo ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate by 5pm on 25 April.

Apply for a postal or proxy votes, or find out about applying for a Voter Authority Certificate.