By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter

The candidates vying to be the MP for Romsey and Southampton North, which includes the city's Bassett and Swaythling wards, have been named.

Residents up and down the country are set to go to the polls on Thursday, July 4.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak surprised many people by calling the general election last month and the campaign is well under way.

The former Romsey and Southampton North Conservative MP Caroline Nokes is attempting to regain her seat.

Ms Nokes, who was minister of state for immigration in Theresa May’s government, has represented the constituency in parliament since it was created in 2010.

After last year’s review by the Boundary Commission for England, Romsey and Southampton North has expanded in the north to take areas to the south and west of Andover, which were previously part of the North West Hampshire constituency.

A small part of the seat’s old area has become part of the Eastleigh constituency, with the Valley Park ward of Test Valley Borough Council near Chandler’s Ford transferred.

The full list of local council wards that make up the Romsey and Southampton North constituency is:

• Bassett and Swaythling wards in Southampton
• Ampfield and Braishfield, Anna, Bellinger, Blackwater, Charlton and the Pentons, Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams, Harewood, Mid Test, North Baddesley, Romsey Abbey, Romsey Cupernham, and Romsey Tadburn in Test Valley

Who's standing?

The candidates residents can vote for in Romsey and Southampton North, and the parties they represent are as follows:

Paul Barrett – Reform UK

Geoff Cooper – Liberal Democrats

Christie Marie Lambert – Labour Party

Caroline Fiona Ellen Nokes – The Conservative Party Candidate

Connor Edward Shaw – Green Party

Fennie Yap – Independent

Key dates

There are several key dates in the run-up to polling day. The last day to register to vote is June 18 and people can sign up by visiting gov.uk/register-to-vote.

In the last general election 21 per cent of the ballots cast were postal votes and new applications for postal votes have to be made before 5pm on June 19 via gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.

There are two deadlines on June 26. Anyone who requires a voter authority certificate or who wishes to appoint a proxy to vote for them must have their applications completed at gov.uk before 5pm.

Voting on polling day

On the day of the general election, polling places will be open between 7am and 10pm.

Information as to where a voter’s station is will be on their polling card, which should be delivered to their house ahead of the election.

Voter ID

This will be the first UK general election where voters must show identification when voting in person. Voter authority certificates are available to those without accepted IDs.

Voters need one of the following types of photo ID to vote:a UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional)

• a driving licence issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands
• a UK passport
• a passport issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or a Commonwealth country
• a PASS card (National Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
• a Blue Badge
• a biometric residence permit (BRP)
• a Defence Identity Card (MOD form 90)
• a national identity card issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
• a Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card
• a Voter Authority Certificate
• an Anonymous Elector’s Document
• an older person’s bus pass
• a disabled person’s bus pass
• an Oyster 60+ card
• a Freedom Pass
• a Scottish National Entitlement Card (NEC)
• a 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• a Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
• a Northern Ireland concessionary travel pass

ID which has expired can be used but the photo must still look like you.