Voting in person

Before every election (except for parish elections, unless the parish council chooses to have poll cards) we deliver poll cards to everyone registered and entitled  to vote. These tell you the date of the election, what the election is, what the voting hours are and where your polling station is located. And from May 2023 this will list the suitable photo ID you must bring with you - this will be listed on the back of the new style poll card that will be posted to you in an envelope.
 

What to do when you get to the polling station

Put simply, you report on arrival to the staff at the station, you will be asked to confirm your name and address as per your poll card. The staff will check your entitlement to vote and then ask to see your photo identity. If they are happy with your identity shown they will then give you a ballot paper(s), and mark you off on their register. You take it to one of the voting booths and mark it in secret. You then put it in the ballot box at the station and leave. That's all there is to it!

If you have any special requirements to help you to vote at a station, please be aware we do take some measures to help anyone with any form of disability. 

If you lose your poll card, or one fails to be delivered for any reason, that's not a problem. You don't need it to vote so long as you are registered. Just go to your polling station and give your address. The staff will check you are registered and, if so, issue you with your vote.

Staff have been trained on the processes and follow guidance from the Electoral Commission as set out in their polling station manual (PDF) [5MB] , as supplied by the Returning Officer.

If you cannot get to your polling station on election day

If you cannot to get to your polling station on election day, you can apply to vote by post up to 11 working days before the date of the election, or vote by proxy up to six working days before the date of the election (a proxy is someone who votes on your behalf).