Voting in person

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Make sure you're registered
Make sure you're registered
To vote in any election in the UK, you must be registered to vote.
Make sure you're registered
Make sure you're registered
To vote in any election in the UK, you must be registered to vote.
Make sure you're registered
Make sure you're registered
To vote in any election in the UK, you must be registered to vote.
Make sure you're registered
Make sure you're registered
To vote in any election in the UK, you must be registered to vote.
Make sure you're registered
Make sure you're registered
To vote in any election in the UK, you must be registered to vote.
If you're in the UK
If you happen to be in the UK on polling day, you can vote in person at your polling station.
If you have a postal vote, you won't be able to vote at the polling station, but you can hand in your completed postal ballot at the polling station.
If you have a proxy vote, you will only be able to vote at the polling station if your proxy hasn't already voted on your behalf.
Your polling station
When you vote in person, you go to the polling station allocated to you based on your address on the electoral register.
Before you go to vote, check where your polling station is. It might not be the closest one to where to you live, and it might have changed since the last time you voted. You have to go to your allocated polling station, and you can't go to a different one close to where you work, for example.
Your polling station will be on your poll card, which you'll receive through the post a few weeks before polling day.
Your polling station
When you vote in person, you go to the polling station allocated to you based on your address on the electoral register.
Before you go to vote, check where your polling station is. It might not be the closest one to where to you live, and it might have changed since the last time you voted. You have to go to your allocated polling station, and you can't go to a different one close to where you work, for example.
Your polling station will be on your poll card, which you'll receive through the post a few weeks before polling day.
Your polling place
When you vote in person, you go to the polling place allocated to you based on your address on the electoral register.
Before you go to vote, check where your polling place is. It might not be the closest one to where to you live, and it might have changed since the last time you voted. You have to go to your allocated polling place, and you can't go to a different one close to where you work, for example.
Your polling place will be on poll card, which you'll receive through the post a few weeks before polling day.
Your polling station
When you vote in person, you go to the polling station allocated to you based on your address on the electoral register.
Before you go to vote, check where your polling station is. It might not be the closest one to where to you live, and it might have changed since the last time you voted. You have to go to your allocated polling station, and you can't go to a different one close to where you work, for example.
Your polling station will be on your poll card, which you'll receive through the post a few weeks before polling day.
Your polling station
When you vote in person, you go to the polling station allocated to you based on your address on the electoral register. This will be the address you used when you registered to vote as an overseas voter (which will be the UK address where you were last registered to vote).
Before you go to vote, check where your polling station is. You have to go to your polling station, and you can't go to a different one.
If you’re registered as an overseas voter, you won’t receive a poll card.
Find your polling station
Enter your postcode to find out where your polling station is.
Your polling station information will be available approximately two weeks before polling day. Your polling station will also be on your poll card.
Find your polling station
Enter your postcode to find out where your polling station is.
Your polling station information will be available approximately two weeks before polling day. Your polling station will also be on your poll card.
Find your polling place
Enter your postcode to find out where your polling place is.
Your polling place information will be available approximately two weeks before polling day. Your polling place will also be on your poll card.
Find your polling station
Enter your postcode (of the address you used when you registered as an overseas voter) to find out where your polling station is.
Your polling station information will be available approximately two weeks before polling day.
Take ID
Take ID
In Northern Ireland, you will need to take a correct form of photo ID with you to your polling station. You won't be able to vote without it.
The only acceptable forms of ID are:
- a UK, Irish or EU passport
- a UK, Irish or EEA driving licence
- a Translink 60+ Smartpass
- a Translink Senior Smartpass
- a Translink Blind Person's Smartpass
- a Translink War Disabled Smartpass
- an Electoral Identity Card
The ID can be expired, but staff at the polling station must be satisfied that you are the person in the photograph on the ID.
Opening times
Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day.
They can get busy, particularly towards the end of the day. If there's a queue at your polling station, you'll still be able to vote as long as you joined the queue before 10pm.
If you need help getting to your polling station, you can contact your local council.
Opening times
Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day.
They can get busy, particularly towards the end of the day. If there's a queue at your polling station, you'll still be able to vote as long as you joined the queue before 10pm.
If you need help getting to your polling station, you can contact your local council.
Opening times
Polling places are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day.
They can get busy, particularly towards the end of the day. If there's a queue at your polling place, you'll still be able to vote as long as you joined the queue before 10pm.
If you need help getting to your polling place, you can contact your council.
Opening times
Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day.
They can get busy, particularly towards the end of the day. If there's a queue at your polling station, you'll still be able to vote as long as you joined the queue before 10pm.
Opening times
Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day.
They can get busy, particularly towards the end of the day. If there's a queue at your polling station, you'll still be able to vote as long as you joined the queue before 10pm.
If you need help getting to your polling station, you can contact your local council.
Tellers
Tellers
You might see people waiting outside the polling station who ask you for the number on your poll card.
These people are called 'tellers', and are volunteering on behalf of candidates. They use the information people give them to check who has voted, and remind people who haven't to do so.
They are allowed to be there and to ask for the information, but you don't have to give them any information if you don't want to.
If you are concerned about the conduct of a teller, speak to a member of staff at the polling station.
Tellers
Tellers
You might see people waiting outside the polling station who ask you for the number on your poll card.
These people are called 'tellers', and are volunteering on behalf of candidates. They use the information people give them to check who has voted, and remind people who haven't to do so.
They are allowed to be there and to ask for the information, but you don't have to give them any information if you don't want to.
If you are concerned about the conduct of a teller, speak to a member of staff at the polling station.
Tellers
Tellers
You might see people waiting outside the polling place who ask you for the number on your poll card.
These people are called 'tellers', and are volunteering on behalf of candidates. They use the information people give them to check who has voted, and remind people who haven't to do so.
They are allowed to be there and to ask for the information, but you don't have to give them any information if you don't want to.
If you are concerned about the conduct of a teller, speak to a member of staff at the polling place.
Tellers
Tellers
You might see people waiting outside the polling station who ask you for the number on your polling card.
These people are called 'tellers', and are volunteering on behalf of candidates. They use the information people give them to check who has voted, and remind people who haven't to do so.
They are allowed to be there and to ask for the information, but you don't have to give them any information if you don't want to.
If you are concerned about the conduct of a teller, speak to a member of staff at the polling station.
How to vote in person
- Check where your polling station is, and go to vote between 7am and 10pm on polling day.
- When you get your polling station, tell the polling station staff (or poll clerk) your name, or give them your poll card. You don't need your poll card to vote, but it can help to speed up the process.
- The staff will then give you a ballot paper listing the candidates you can vote for. You might be given more than one ballot paper if there is more than one election taking place in your local area on the same day.
- Take your ballot paper (or papers) to a polling booth, so that you can cast your vote in secret.
- Read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully. Some elections use different voting methods, so you need to make sure you fill in each ballot paper correctly.
- Complete your ballot paper using the pencil provided in the polling booth. You can also use your own pen if you want to. Don't write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted.
- If you make a mistake, don't put your ballot paper in the ballot box. Ask the polling station staff for a replacement ballot paper, and fill it in again.
- Once you're done, fold your completed ballot paper and put it in the ballot box.
Taking photos
Taking photos inside the polling station isn't allowed as it might risk the secrecy of the ballot.
You are more than welcome to take photos outside the polling station, and share them on social media to encourage your friends and family to vote.
Postal ballot papers are viewed differently in electoral law to ballot papers in a polling station, so voters can take a photo of their own postal ballot paper and publicise it (including on social media) if they want to.
It is the personal choice of the voter whether they decide to take a photo of their postal ballot paper and share it. It is an offence to persuade or induce another person to share a photo of their postal ballot paper.
How to vote in person
- Check where your polling station is, and go to vote between 7am and 10pm on polling day.
- When you get your polling station, tell the polling station staff (or poll clerk) your name, or give them your poll card. You don't need your poll card to vote, but it can help to speed up the process.
- The staff will then give you a ballot paper listing the candidates you can vote for. You might be given more than one ballot paper if there is more than one election taking place in your local area on the same day.
- Take your ballot paper (or papers) to a polling booth, so that you can cast your vote in secret.
- Read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully. Some elections use different voting methods, so you need to make sure you fill in each ballot paper correctly.
- Complete your ballot paper using the pencil provided in the polling booth. You can also use your own pen if you want to. Don't write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted.
- If you make a mistake, don't put your ballot paper in the ballot box. Ask the polling station staff for a replacement ballot paper, and fill it in again.
- Once you're done, fold your completed ballot paper and put it in the ballot box.
Taking photos
Taking photos inside the polling station isn't allowed as it might risk the secrecy of the ballot.
You are more than welcome to take photos outside the polling station, and share them on social media to encourage your friends and family to vote.
Postal ballot papers are viewed differently in electoral law to ballot papers in a polling station, so voters can take a photo of their own postal ballot paper and publicise it (including on social media) if they want to.
It is the personal choice of the voter whether they decide to take a photo of their postal ballot paper and share it. It is an offence to persuade or induce another person to share a photo of their postal ballot paper.
How to vote in person
- Check where your polling place is, and go to vote between 7am and 10pm on polling day.
- When you get your polling place, tell the polling station staff (or poll clerk) your name, or give them your poll card. You don't need your poll card to vote, but it can help to speed up the process.
- The staff will then give you a ballot paper listing the candidates you can vote for. You might be given more than one ballot paper if there is more than one election taking place in your local area on the same day.
- Take your ballot paper (or papers) to a polling booth, so that you can cast your vote in secret.
- Read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully. Some elections use different voting methods, so you need to make sure you fill in each ballot paper correctly.
- Complete your ballot paper using the pencil provided in the polling booth. You can also use your own pen if you want to. Don't write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted.
- If you make a mistake, don't put your ballot paper in the ballot box. Ask the polling station staff for a replacement ballot paper, and fill it in again.
- Once you're done, fold your completed ballot paper and put it in the ballot box.
Taking photos
Taking photos inside the polling place isn't allowed as it might risk the secrecy of the ballot.
You are more than welcome to take photos outside the polling place, and share them on social media to encourage your friends and family to vote.
Postal ballot papers are viewed differently in electoral law to ballot papers in a polling station, so voters can take a photo of their own postal ballot paper and publicise it (including on social media) if they want to.
It is the personal choice of the voter whether they decide to take a photo of their postal ballot paper and share it. It is an offence to persuade or induce another person to share a photo of their postal ballot paper.
How to vote in person
- Check where your polling station is, and go to vote between 7am and 10pm on polling day.
- When you get your polling station, show the polling station staff (or poll clerk) your ID. You need to show ID, but you don't need your poll card to vote (it can help to speed up the process).
- The staff will then give you a ballot paper listing the candidates you can vote for. You might be given more than one ballot paper if there is more than one election taking place in your local area on the same day.
- Take your ballot paper (or papers) to a polling booth, so that you can cast your vote in secret.
- Read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully. Some elections use different voting methods, so you need to make sure you fill in each ballot paper correctly.
- Complete your ballot paper using the pencil provided in the polling booth. You can also use your own pen if you want to. Don't write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted.
- If you make a mistake, don't put your ballot paper in the ballot box. Ask the polling station staff for a replacement ballot paper, and fill it again.
- Once you're done, fold your completed ballot paper and put it in the ballot box.
Taking photos
Taking photos inside the polling station isn't allowed as it might risk the secrecy of the ballot.
You are more than welcome to take photos outside the polling station, and share them on social media to encourage your friends and family to vote.
How to vote in person
- Check where your polling station is, and go to vote between 7am and 10pm on polling day.
- When you get to your polling station, tell the polling station staff (or poll clerk) your name.
- The staff will then give you a ballot paper listing the candidates you can vote for. You might be given more than one ballot paper if there is more than one election taking place in your local area on the same day.
- Take your ballot paper (or papers) to a polling booth, so that you can cast your vote in secret.
- Read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully. Some elections use different voting methods, so you need to make sure you fill in each ballot paper correctly.
- Complete your ballot paper using the pencil provided in the polling booth. You can also use your own pen if you want to. Don't write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted.
- If you make a mistake, don't put your ballot paper in the ballot box. Ask the poll clerk for a replacement ballot paper, and fill it again.
- Once you're done, fold your completed ballot paper and put it in the ballot box.
Taking photos
Taking photos inside the polling station isn't allowed as it might risk the secrecy of the ballot.
You are more than welcome to take photos outside the polling station, and share them on social media to encourage your friends and family to vote.
Asking for help
If you're not sure what to do, or need any help, just ask the staff at the polling station – they will be happy to assist you to cast your vote.
There are a number of things at the polling station to help you cast your vote, including a large print sample ballot paper, and a tactile voting device to help if you have a visual impairment.
If you want to, you can take your phone into the polling booth to use magnifier or text-to-speech apps, or the phone torch to improve lighting. When using your phone, don’t take any photos inside the polling station.
You can also ask polling station staff to help you, or you can bring someone with you to help (if they’re over 18 and eligible to vote in the election).
Asking for help
If you're not sure what to do, or need any help, just ask the staff at the polling station – they will be happy to assist you to cast your vote.
There are a number of things at the polling station to help you cast your vote, including a large print sample ballot paper, and a tactile voting device to help if you have a visual impairment.
If you want to, you can take your phone into the polling booth to use magnifier or text-to-speech apps, or the phone torch to improve lighting. When using your phone, don’t take any photos inside the polling station.
You can also ask polling station staff to help you, or you can bring someone with you to help (if they’re over 18 and eligible to vote in the election).
Asking for help
If you're not sure what to do, or need any help, just ask the staff at the polling place – they will be happy to assist you to cast your vote.
There are a number of things at the polling place to help you cast your vote, including a large print sample ballot paper, and a tactile voting device to help if you have a visual impairment.
If you want to, you can take your phone into the polling booth to use magnifier or text-to-speech apps, or the phone torch to improve lighting. When using your phone, don’t take any photos inside the polling station.
You can also ask polling place staff to help you, or you can bring someone with you to help (if they’re over 18 and eligible to vote in the election).
Asking for help
If you're not sure what to do, or need any help, just ask the staff at the polling station – they will be happy to assist you to cast your vote.
There are a number of things at the polling station to help you cast your vote, including a large print sample ballot paper, and a tactile voting device to help if you have a visual impairment.
You can also ask polling station staff to help you, or you can bring someone with you to help (if they’re over 18 and eligible to vote in the election).
Asking for help
If you're not sure what to do, or need any help, just ask the staff at the polling station – they will be happy to assist you to cast your vote.
There are a number of things at the polling station to help you cast your vote, including a large print sample ballot paper, and a tactile voting device to help if you have a visual impairment.
If you want to, you can take your phone into the polling booth to use magnifier or text-to-speech apps, or the phone torch to improve lighting. When using your phone, don’t take any photos inside the polling station.
You can also ask polling station staff to help you, or you can bring someone with you to help (if they’re over 18 and eligible to vote in the election).
Campaigning on polling day
Campaigning on polling day
There are no rules that say campaigning can't take place on polling day.
However, campaigning should not take place within the polling station itself, and campaigners must not obstruct the polling station or stop voters from entering.
It's an offence to influence someone to vote a certain way by intimidating them or using undue influence.
If you're concerned about something, contact the elections team at your local council. If you have evidence that a crime has taken place, contact the police or Crimestoppers. Find out more about electoral fraud, which includes influencing someone to vote a certain way.
Campaigning on polling day
Campaigning on polling day
There are no rules that say campaigning can't take place on polling day.
However, campaigning should not take place within the polling station itself, and campaigners must not obstruct the polling station or stop voters from entering.
It's an offence to influence someone to vote a certain way by intimidating them or using undue influence.
If you're concerned about something, contact the elections team at your local council. If you have evidence that a crime has taken place, contact the police or Crimestoppers. Find out more about electoral fraud, which includes influencing someone to vote a certain way.
Campaigning on polling day
Campaigning on polling day
There are no rules that say campaigning can't take place on polling day.
However, campaigning should not take place within the polling place itself, and campaigners must not obstruct the polling place or stop voters from entering.
It's an offence to influence someone to vote a certain way by intimidating them or using undue influence.
If you're concerned about something, contact the elections team at your council. If you have evidence that a crime has taken place, contact the police or Crimestoppers. Find out more about electoral fraud, which includes influencing someone to vote a certain way.
Campaigning on polling day
Campaigning on polling day
There are no rules that say campaigning can't take place on polling day.
However, campaigning should not take place within the polling station itself, and campaigners must not obstruct the polling station or stop voters from entering.
It's an offence to influence someone to vote a certain way.
If you're concerned about something, contact the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. If you have evidence that a crime has taken place, contact the police. Find out more about electoral fraud, which includes influencing someone to vote a certain way.
Campaigning on polling day
Campaigning on polling day
There are no rules that say campaigning can't take place on polling day.
However, campaigning should not take place within the polling station itself, and campaigners must not obstruct the polling station or stop voters from entering.
Find out about campaign material and campaigning on polling day
It's an offence to influence someone to vote a certain way by intimidating them or using undue influence.
If you're concerned about something, contact the elections team at your local council. If you have evidence that a crime has taken place, contact the police or Crimestoppers. Find out more about electoral fraud, which includes influencing someone to vote a certain way.
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