How voting works

We'll write to all electors with a poll card whenever an election is scheduled.

You'll be sent a new poll card for each election.

What do you need to do?

You will need to register to vote for all of these if you want to have your say. It only takes about five minutes.

When voting, it is a requirement for all voters in polling stations to show eligible ID before they can be issued with a ballot paper.

What will you receive in the post?

All voters are allocated to a specific polling station in their local area. The details of your polling station will be on your poll card, which is sent around five weeks before polling day.

Voting in a polling station

All voters are allocated to a specific polling station. We will provide details of the polling station on your poll card, which is sent around 5 weeks before polling day. 

All polling stations are assessed for accessibility and will have facilities to enable everyone to vote. 

If you have any concerns about your allocated polling station, or you wish to discuss specific accessibility requirements, please contact electoral services directly. 

You must show ID before you can be issued with a ballot paper.

Completing a ballot paper

Your ballot paper will have instructions at the top of the ballot paper explaining exactly how to vote.

In most cases, you'll be asked to put an X in the box next to the candidate you want to vote for. If you have more than one vote, like in some local councillor elections, the ballot paper will tell you. 

Don't make any other marks on the ballot paper - it could mean your vote gets rejected.

If you're not sure how to mark the ballot paper, ask a member of staff in the polling station, or contact electoral services by phone.

If you'd prefer to vote by post or by proxy

This is not a problem:

• if you received a postal vote but weren't able to send it on time, you can take it to your local polling station until 10pm on polling day

How to vote by post

• you can apply for a one-off postal vote for a specific election, or for all elections
• if you apply for a postal vote, we will send your ballot paper to your home or another specified address
• you need to apply for a postal vote by 5pm on the 11th working day before the election
• if you can't apply for the postal vote online, contact us for a paper form to be sent to you

Apply for a postal vote

• apply for a postal vote online at GOV.UK

How to vote by proxy

• a proxy vote is when you appoint somebody else to vote on your behalf
• your proxy can opt to vote at your allocated polling station, or they can apply for a postal vote
• you can only apply to vote by proxy for a specific election
• you need to apply for a proxy vote by 5pm on the 6th working day before the election
• if you can't apply for the proxy vote online, contact us for a paper form to be sent to you

Apply for a proxy vote

• apply for a proxy vote online

Emergency proxy voting

Find out more about emergency proxy voting. 

Accessible voting

We're working hard to make our elections more accessible.

While most of the processes for registering to vote and casting a vote are prescribed in law, the Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for electors with disabilities in order to remove barriers to voting.

Requesting a reasonable adjustment

If you have a disability and need support to vote, you have the right to request a reasonable adjustment.

You can make a request by:

• completing an online form
• phoning our helpline on 020 8314 6086

Please contact us as early as possible before an election so that we have time to consider and arrange your request.  

Existing support available at polling stations 

Wheelchair access

All polling stations are wheelchair accessible and temporary ramps are provided where needed. Some polling stations may have an alternative step-free access route, and this will be clearly signposted.

Every polling station has a low-level polling booth. It's suitable for most wheelchair users and people of short stature.

Pencil grips

Specially designed pencil grips are available to help voters who find it difficult to hold a pencil.

Voting aids for visually impaired or blind voters

• tactile voting devices are available at all polling stations so that visually impaired voters can mark their vote on the ballot paper in the correct place
• large print versions of ballot papers are available in every polling station, these can be used as a reference. (You must cast your vote on a standard sized ballot paper, as required by law)
• voters with disabilities are welcome to use text-to-speech apps or other assistive equipment to read documents to help them to mark their ballot paper
• magnifying glasses are available at all polling stations

Help from a companion

If you have a disability which prevents you from marking your ballot paper yourself, you may bring someone with you to help you to mark your ballot paper.

Your companion must:

• be 18 or over on poling day
• complete a companion declaration form, available from the Presiding Officer at the polling station

Help from the polling station Presiding Officer

If you have a disability which prevents you from marking your ballot paper, the Presiding Officer at the polling station can mark your ballot paper for you. They are legally bound to keep your vote secret

The Presiding Officer and the Poll Clerks can also answer any questions about the voting process so that voters are confident they are completing their ballot paper correctly.

Assistance animals

Assistance animals are welcome inside polling stations.

Past election results

You can find details of past election results on our dedicated election results archive page.