ask voters for their name and address before making sure that they are eligible to vote by checking against the register of electors
ask the voter to produce their photographic ID
verify the photographic ID
mark a straight line against the voter’s entry on the register of electors
call out the name and electoral number of the elector
write the elector number on a list (the Corresponding Numbers List) next to the number of the ballot paper to be issued
ensure that the ballot paper includes the official mark (e.g. a barcode or watermark)
fold the ballot paper and then hand it unfolded to the elector so that they can see all of the options on the ballot paper
The elector will then:
take the ballot paper to the polling booth, and
mark the ballot paper in private, unless assisted by a companion or the Presiding Officer
fold the marked ballot paper and show the ballot paper number and unique identifying mark on the back of the ballot paper to the Presiding Officer
place the ballot paper into the ballot box and then leave the polling station
The polling station will have facilities for any voter who wishes to have their ID checked in private.
Where the voter does not bring ID or brings an incorrect form of ID, the voter will be able to return to the polling station with an acceptable form of photographic ID. Once an acceptable form of ID is shown, the voter will be issued with a ballot paper.
Combined Polls
Where the election has been combined with another electoral event, polling station staff will be issuing the ballot papers for all electoral events that the voter is eligible to vote at.
This means that sometimes electors may not be receiving all of the ballot papers being issued in the polling station, as they may not be entitled to vote at every electoral event.
If polls have been combined, a single ballot box may be used for all contests, or separate ballot boxes may be used for each separate contest.
Accessibility in polling stations
The Returning Officer has a responsibility to ensure that voting is accessible. They must provide each polling station with a range of equipment as is reasonable for the purposes of enabling or making it easier for disabled voters to vote independently and in secret.
The Presiding Officer can assist anyone who is unable to mark the ballot paper themselves.1
Alternatively, a voter may bring along someone they know and trust to assist them in marking their vote.2
The person assisting the voter must be aged 18 or over, and can only assist a maximum of two voters at the election.
Any person attending the polling station to assist an elector must complete a declaration to the Presiding Officer before they aid the elector in the polling booth.
1. Schedule 2, Rule 36(1), Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 (LEPAR 2006)↩ Back to content at footnote 1