Voting in person

Voting in person takes place in polling stations on the day of an election or referendum. You cannot vote if you are not registered to vote. After you have registered to vote, the only way to cast your vote is in person unless you have also successfully applied for a postal or proxy vote.

Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm on polling day. Staff inside the polling station will ask for your name and address, check the register, check your photo ID and then mark your name off the list before issuing your ballot paper(s).

Your allocated polling station

You can only vote at the polling station that has been designated to you.

Poll cards sent to polling station voters before an upcoming election will show the address of the elector’s allocated polling station, along with a map of the area.

If you have queries when you visit your polling station

You can ask polling station staff for help, or you can bring someone with you. Anyone aged 18 or over can come with you to help you cast your vote. They don’t need to be eligible to vote in that election.

You may wish to take our request support at the polling station form to your polling station. The form can be used to let the staff know that you need assistance to help you vote. Contact Electoral Services if you would like a paper version of the form posted to you.

More information about voting in person can be found on the Electoral Commission website.

Other voting methods (absent voting)

If you cannot visit your designated polling station on polling day, you can apply for a postal or proxy vote. Be mindful of the following application deadlines:

• Postal vote applications (including postal proxy) and requests to change existing postal arrangements (including cancellations) must reach us by 5pm, 11 working days before an election.
• New proxy vote applications (excluding emergency proxies and postal proxies) must reach us by 5pm, 6 working days before an election.