The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is reminding voters who are not currently on the electoral register to sign up now if they wish to take part in the General Election on Thursday 4 July. You only need to register if you have never registered before, or have recently moved or changed your name.

The last date for registering to vote for this election is Tuesday 18 June at 11.59pm – now less than three weeks away. Registering to vote is easiest online via http://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

The nomination period for candidates will open on Tuesday 4 June at 10am and close on Friday 7 June at 4pm, with the confirmed candidates announced shortly thereafter.

Whether voting in the Windsor or Maidenhead constituencies, you will have the usual range of options for casting your vote – in person, by post, or by appointing someone you trust to vote in your place, known as a proxy vote.

The deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications is 5pm on Wednesday 19 June. The deadline for receiving new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy or emergency proxies) is 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.

You now have the additional option to apply online to vote by post or proxy at https://www.gov.uk/how-to-vote You will also need to prove your identity when applying to vote by post and proxy, by providing your National Insurance number (or a reason why one cannot be provided along with additional documentary evidence).

If you choose to vote in person on the day, by law you will need to bring along and show accepted photo ID in order to vote at a polling station. A wide range of photo ID are accepted, including passports, driving licences and cards with a PASS Mark.

If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. Visit http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID or call 0800 328 0280 to apply and check the full list of accepted forms of ID. You will be able to use expired ID if you are still recognisable from the photo.

Paper copies of application forms can still be requested by contacting the local Elections Helpline via 01628 683868 or electoral.registration@rbwm.gov.uk For more information about eligibility to vote, visit http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk