Vote in a polling station
Once registered, the default method of voting is in person.
You can find your local polling station on the poll card you will receive through the post in the weeks leading up to the election or referendum. You can only vote at the polling station location on your card.
On the day:
- Bring your photo ID!
- Attend any time between 7am and 10pm on polling day
- Follow the signs to the entrance
- Approach polling staff to give them your name, address and ID
- You will be given a ballot paper which you will take to the polling booths to complete. Please make note of the instruction notices and instructions on your ballot paper.
- Place your ballot paper in the ballot box
If you have a disability or access needs, please let polling staff know and they can assist you. More information here.
Vote by post
Busy on polling day? Going to be on holiday? Not able to get to your polling station in person?
You can apply to vote by post at any time. The deadline for applying for a particular election is at least eleven days before that election is due to be held. If you would like to continue to vote by post for upcoming elections, you will need to renew your postal vote application every three years.
Please note you can only apply to vote by post if you are already registered to vote at your current address.
You will receive a postal vote pack, which will include instructions on how to complete and send back your vote. We must receive all postal votes no later than 10pm on polling day. If you haven't got enough time to post, you can hand it in to any polling station on polling day, and must sign a declaration, or your vote will be rejected.
If you are voting from abroad, please note that while we endeavor to ensure you can complete the postal vote process prior to the close of polls, timings may be impacted by postal services.
For more detail: Vote by post
Vote by proxy
Applying to vote by proxy means you are appointing someone else to vote on your behalf if you can't get to your polling station on polling day.
The deadline for applying to vote by proxy is 5pm 6 working days before that election. However, in some circumstances you can apply for an emergency proxy vote.
The individual you nominate to act as your proxy must themselves be registered to vote and has agreed to vote on your behalf. You must notify them of the candidate or referendum outcome you want to vote for.
Acting as someone's proxy? You’ll need to take your own ID when you go to vote on someone else’s behalf. You do not need to take theirs.
Please note you can only apply to vote by proxy if you are already registered to vote at your current address.
For more detail: Vote by proxy