Police and Crime Commissioner elections

In North Wales, a PCC will be elected to represent residents of six counties / county boroughs. This covers the following council areas:

  • Anglesey County Council
  • Conwy County Borough Council
  • Denbighshire County Council
  • Flintshire County Council
  • Gwynedd Council
  • Wrexham County Borough Council

Each area has a local returning officer who is responsible for arranging and delivering the poll to the electors in their area.

What does the police and crime commissioner (PCC) do?

The PCC’s role is to ensure the policing needs of their communities are met as effectively as possible, bringing communities closer to the police and building public confidence.

PCCs give the public a voice at the highest level, and give the public the ability to ensure their police are accountable.

The police area returning officer (PARO)

The PARO is responsible for dealing with candidates and agents, the conduct of the poll and collating the total result across the North Wales Police area and declaring the result.

Ian Bancroft, the chief executive of Wrexham Council, has been appointed as the PARO for the North Wales Police area.

Who is standing for election?

Details of the candidates for this election will be available on the Choose My PCC website (external website) after 5 April 2024.

How do I vote in the PCC election?

You can find out more information on how to register to vote, apply for a postal or proxy vote, and how to vote (including information about voter ID) on the how to vote page.

Important dates

The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday, 16 April 2024.

Register to vote (external website)

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Wednesday, 17 April 2024.

Register for a postal vote (external website)

The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Wednesday, 24 April 2024.

Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’) (external website)

The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday, 24 April 2024.

Register for a proxy vote (external website)

New rules for this election

About Voter ID

Voters need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections. More information can be found on our Voter ID webpage.

Postal vote handling rules

  • Your postal vote will be rejected if it is not returned correctly.
  • The easiest and most convenient way to return your postal vote is by posting it in a Royal Mail post box using the pre-paid envelope provided (envelope B).
  • Please allow enough time for your postal vote to reach us through the post. It must be received by the local returning officer not later than 10pm on polling day.
  • If you are hand delivering your completed postal vote, for example at a polling station or the County Hall, Ruthin (address on envelope B), you now need to complete a form. Our staff will help you with this.
  • You may hand deliver your own and no more than 5 other postal votes per election (6 in total).
  • If you are a political campaigner, you can only hand in your own postal vote, and those of close relatives or someone for whom you provide regular care.
  • Please do not leave your postal vote in any council office post box.

Information for prospective candidates

Extensive guidance and resources for candidates and agents can be found on the Electoral Commission website (external website). This includes:

  • what you need to know before standing for election
  • candidate spending
  • campaigning
  • nominations
  • postal votes
  • polling day
  • verification and count
  • after the election

Candidate briefing documents

The Home Office has also published a series of briefing documents (external website) which PCC candidates may wish to refer to as a reference source.

Key dates

  • Candidates and agents briefing session (pre-nominations): Tuesday, 27 February 2024
  • Notice of election: Monday, 25 March 2024
  • Delivery of nomination papers: Tuesday, 26 March 2024 to Friday, 5 April 2024 (between 10am and 4pm on any working day)
  • Deadline for withdrawals of nomination: Friday, 5 April 2024 (by 4pm)
  • Deadline for notification of appointment of election agents: Friday, 5 April 2024 (by 4pm)
  • Statement of persons nominated: Monday, 8 April 2024 (by 4pm)
  • Candidates and agents briefing session (post-nominations): Tuesday, 9 April 2024
  • Deadline for receiving applications for registration: Tuesday, 16 April 2024
  • Deadline for receiving or amending postal vote applications: Wednesday, 17 April 2024 (by 5pm)
  • Deadline for receiving applications for Voter Authority Certificates: Wednesday, 24 April 2024 (by 5pm)
  • Deadline for receiving proxy applications: Wednesday, 24 April 2024 (by 5pm)
  • Publication of notice of poll: not later than Wednesday, 24 April 2024 (by 5pm)
  • Polling day: Thursday, 2 May 2024
  • PCC verification and count process: Friday, 3 May 2024 (start at 9am) if stand-alone; or Sunday, 5 May 2024 (start at 9am) if combined with UK Parliamentary General Election