Polling day

Campaigning is allowed on polling day, so you might see campaign material on social media or receive a leaflet through your door on polling day itself. But campaign material is not allowed within the perimeters of a polling station. This means there shouldn’t be any campaign posters, banners or other advertising literature:

• in the polling station itself
• on the polling station building
• on the land of the polling station, such a car park

However, there’s nothing to stop the house next door to the polling station from displaying campaign material in the window or putting a banner up in the garden. There may be some local planning restrictions that prevent placards or banners being put up nearby, but this would not be covered by electoral law.

Campaigners or candidates must not campaign near polling stations in a way that could be seen as aggressive or intimidating (for example, large groups of supporters carrying banners, or vehicles with loudspeakers or heavily branded with campaign material).

Find out more about campaigning on polling day

Broadcasters on TV and radio must not discuss or analyse election issues once polling stations have opened, up until 10pm when voting finishes.  

It is against the law for anyone, including broadcasters, to publish the results of any opinion poll on polling day until polling stations close.

Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code sets out broadcasters’ responsibilities during elections.