With only eight weeks to go until the voter registration deadline for local elections on 7 May, anyone who wants to vote must make sure they are registered in time.

Research shows that some groups, including young people, students and those who have recently moved, are less likely to be registered than others. The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 20 April. Voters can apply online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. It takes just five minutes.

Once registered, voters have a range of options – they can vote in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote on their behalf, known as a proxy vote.

Voters going to a polling station will need to show photo ID. To find out which ID you can use in the polling station, visit the Electoral Commission website. Most people already have valid photo ID and won’t need to take any action. If you do not have one of the accepted types of ID, you can apply for free ID at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate or by completing and submitting a paper form to your local authority.

Find out more about the local elections at www.fareham.gov.uk/elections