How to vote at a polling station

To be able to vote, you need to be registered.

At the polling station

Polling stations are open on the day of the election from 7am to 10pm.

  • Your poll card will tell you where to vote.
  • You must show photo identification (ID) at the polling station to vote.
  • Go to your local polling station. If you need assistance you can ask to have a companion with you when you vote.
  • If you have children or dogs, you can take them into the polling station with you.
  • Tell the staff inside the polling station your name and address. They will check that you are on the electoral register. You do not need to take your polling card with you to vote
  • The staff at the polling station will give you a ballot paper. It will list the candidates that you can vote for, and the party they represent. 
  • If there is more than one election on that day, you will get more than one ballot paper.
  • If you have a visual impairment, you can ask for a special voting device that allows you to vote on your own.
  • Take your ballot paper into a polling booth so that no one can see your vote. Mark a cross (X) in the box to the right of the name of the candidate or party you want to vote for. Do not write anything else on the paper or your vote may not be counted
  • Fold the ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box. Do not let anyone see your vote.
  • If you are unsure about anything, ask the polling staff to help you

Voters with a disability

We carry out regular polling station reviews in order to make sure we can maintain and improve what we provide for all voters.

If you can't gain access to a Polling Station, you can:

  • apply for a postal vote so you can post your completed ballot paper.
  • apply for a proxy vote and nominate someone you trust to cast your vote for you.

If you want to vote in person and can't get into the building, ask the Presiding Officer to bring the ballot papers out of the polling station for you.

After you have marked and folded the papers, the Presiding Officer must place them into the ballot boxes immediately to preserve the secrecy of your vote.

Voters in wheelchairs

All our polling stations have polling booths that are height adjustable to accommodate voters in wheelchairs.

Visually impaired voters

There is at least one large print display of the ballot paper at each station.

You can ask the polling station staff to read the list of candidates and their details to you.

We also provide tactile voting devices. Or, you can ask the Presiding Officer to help you vote.

Assisted Voters

You can have someone with you to help you vote. They must be a close relative or a qualified elector. You need to ask permission from the Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer has to be satisfied that your disabilities prevent you from voting unaided. Your companion has to complete and sign a declaration at the polling station.

If you prefer, you can ask the Presiding Officer to help you vote. You need to tell the Presiding Officer, in the privacy of the polling booth, who you want to vote for, and they will mark the ballot paper on your behalf.

If the Presiding Officer helps you to vote, the name of the voter has to be recorded on an official form. When polling is finished, the Presiding Officer has to make a statement about how many voters they have assisted.

Electoral offences

Your right to vote is yours alone. Nobody should stop you from voting or interfere with your right to vote. Nobody can find out how you voted.

There is more information about electoral fraud on the Crimestoppers website.

Reporting offences

If you become aware that an electoral offence is being committed, report it to us on 01282 661919.

You can also report electoral offences to Crimestoppers anonymously by:

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