Elections - How To Vote

At election time we receive many questions about the election process, such as who can and can't vote, and how to go about doing it. The most common questions we get are answered below:

Who is eligible to vote?

You have to be 18 years or over to vote at an election;
All British, Commonwealth, Irish and other European Union citizens are allowed to vote in UK elections;
European Union citizens are allowed to vote in European and local elections only;
Overseas electors are allowed to vote in Parliamentary and European elections only;

To vote at an election you must be on the Electoral Register

How do I vote?

Polling Station
By Post
By Proxy

Voting at a polling station

Poll cards are delivered shortly before an election. Each member of the household who is allowed to vote should receive a poll card, which tells you of the date of the election, where your polling station is and the hours of the poll. You do not need to take the poll card with your to be able to vote.

Hours of Poll

For all types of elections - Parliamentary, European, Local and Parish - the hours of poll are 7.00am to 10pm

At the polling stations

When you get to your polling station, the Presiding Officer (the person responsible for the Polling Station) will ask you to confirm your name and address and give you a ballot paper. The ballot paper will be marked with an official stamp and will say how many candidates you may vote for.
You should take the ballot paper to the voting booth and mark with an "X" next to your chosen candidate(s). Fold the ballot paper and put it in the ballot box. Click here to view our vitual polling station.