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Voters will go to the polls on Thursday August 31 to elect a new councillor in Caerphilly county borough.

A by-election has been arranged in the Penmaen ward following the death of Labour councillor Jim Sadler in May.

The candidates

Six candidates will appear on the ballot paper on polling day.

In alphabetical order, by surname, they are:

• Elizabeth Davies (Welsh Labour)
• George Edwards-Etheridge (Independent)
• Jonathan David Errington (Welsh Liberal Democrats)
• Clayton Francis Jones (Gwlad)
• Imogen Martin (Welsh Conservatives)
• Andrew Short (Plaid Cymru)

Polling day

Eligible voters will be able to cast their votes between 7am and 10pm on August 31.

Three polling stations will be open on election day.

Voters with polling card reference numbers VA 1 to VA 2393 can vote at Oakdale Community Centre, Penrhiw Avenue, Oakdale, NP12 0NH.

Voters with polling card reference numbers VB 1 to VB 1315 can vote at Oakdale Sports Pavilion, Llwynon Road, Oakdale, Blackwood, NP12 0LR.

Voters with polling card reference numbers VC 1 to VC 848 can vote at Woodfieldside OAP Hall, Woodfieldside Street, Woodfieldside, NP12 0BT.

Proxy votes

Applications for postal and proxy votes had to have reached Caerphilly council’s electoral registration officer by August 15 and 22, respectively.

But applications for emergency proxy votes “on the grounds of disability, or for work or service reasons”, can still be made.

Any emergency proxy applications must reach the electoral registration officer at Gilfach House, William Street, Gilfach, Bargoed CF81 8ND by 5pm on August 31. 

“The disability must have occurred after 5pm on August 22, 2023,” council rules state. “To apply on the grounds of work or service, the person must have become aware that they cannot go to the polling station in person after 5pm on August 22, 2023.”