How to vote on polling day and find out where your polling station is.
Who can vote
You must be at least 18 years old to vote and your name must be on the electoral register.
Type of voter | Elections you can vote in |
---|---|
You hold a British, Irish, or qualifying Commonwealth citizenship and live in the UK | All elections |
You are registered as an overseas voter | UK Parliament general elections and referendums only |
You are an EU citizen (unless you are from the Republic of Ireland, Malta or Cyprus) | All elections, except for UK Parliament general elections |
How to vote
If your name is on the electoral register, you will receive a poll card a few weeks before the election day. This will tell you when and where you can vote. This card is for information only - if you lose it or forget it, you can still vote.
You will need to bring along an acceptable form of ID, please see our Voter ID page for more information.
On election day, you need to go to your local polling station, show your ID and you will be issued with a ballot paper.
At most elections, you simply take your ballot paper into a booth, put a mark on the ballot paper next to the name of the candidate or candidates you want to vote for and put your paper in the ballot box. That is all there is to it.
You can also vote by post or ask someone to vote on your behalf. You can find out about this by visiting our voting by post or voting by proxy pages.
Video of how to vote at a polling station
We’ve produced this short video to show you what you can expect when you visit one of our polling stations.
Your local polling station
If your name is on the electoral register, you will receive a poll card a few weeks before the election day. This will tell you when and where to vote. You will vote at your local polling station.
You can also check your polling station using our polling station look-up feature.
Polling stations are open between 7am and 10pm on the election day.
Information about the candidates
During the campaign, candidates will provide you with their election information or call on you at your home. They will tell you what they will do for your community. Sometimes, candidates hold local meetings where you can meet them.
Candidates are usually members of political parties, but not always. Some candidates stand as independents. Although parties often address the same issues, their policies will differ. The party will usually produce information telling you about their beliefs and what they will do if they are elected.
Contact us