Voting at the polling station, by post and by proxy

About voting at the polling station

Voting at the polling station means going to vote in person at your specific polling station.

Your poll card will tell you which polling station you can go to. You cannot choose your polling station – it is allocated to you based on your address. If you’re not sure where your polling station is, you can visit our polling station finder to see the location on a map.

If it will be difficult for you to get to that location or you will be away on polling day, you will need to consider other ways of voting – these are called ‘absent voting’.

You can find out about the options for absent voting by following the links below, but you will need to apply in advance:

• Voting by post (apply by 5pm, 11 working days before polling day)
• Voting by proxy (apply by 5pm, six working days before polling day)

If you cannot get to the polling station because you are going on holiday, you should check when postal votes will be sent out before applying to make sure you will not be going away before it arrives.

Voter ID

From May 2023, all voters must bring a form of photo ID to the polling station. You will not be allowed to vote if you do not bring photo ID with you.

Only certain types of photo ID can be accepted. For a full list of acceptable ID, please see ‘What photo ID can I use in the polling station?’ in the frequently asked questions below.

If you don’t have an acceptable form of photo ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. This is a free form of photo ID that can be used for voting purposes only.

You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate online up to 5pm, six working days before polling day.

Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (GOV.UK)

You’ll need your National Insurance number and a passport-style photograph of yourself to complete the application. If you need help completing the application contact Electoral Services using the details at the bottom of this page. 

How to vote in person at the polling station

When you arrive the at the polling station:

1. Go to the desk and tell a member of staff your name and address. They will check you are registered and eligible to vote in the election. You can show them your poll card, but you don’t need it to vote.
2. Show them your photo ID. You will need to show them the original document and remove any face coverings you are wearing.
3. They will give you a ballot paper. You might be given more than one ballot paper if there is more than one election taking place in your area on the same day.
4. Take your ballot paper (or papers) to a polling booth. The booth allows you to cast your vote in secret.
5. Cast your vote by putting a cross next to the name of the candidate (or candidates) you would like to vote for. Read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully. If you vote for more candidates than you are allowed, your vote will not be counted.
6. Do not write anything else on the ballot paper as your vote may not be counted.
7. If you make a mistake on your ballot paper, don’t put the ballot paper in the ballot box or the bin. Return the ballot paper to a member of staff and ask for a replacement.
8. When you are done, fold your ballot paper in half once and put it in the ballot box.

If you’re not sure what to do or you need help, you can ask the polling station staff. They wear badges so that you can see who they are.

You can ask to see a sample ballot paper before you vote.

Frequently asked questions about voting in the polling station

When are polling stations open?

On polling day, polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm.

If there is a queue at your polling station at the close of poll, you will still be able to vote if you joined the queue before 10pm. You might be given a queue card to show this.

What if I can’t get to my polling station anymore?

If the deadlines to apply for an absent vote have passed and you are suddenly unable to get to your polling station because of work, education, or a medical emergency, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote up to 5pm on polling day.

This is when you appoint someone you trust to go to your polling station on your behalf.

If you think you will need to apply for an emergency proxy, call Electoral Services.

What photo ID can I use in the polling station?

You can use the following forms of photo ID in the polling station:

• A passport*
• A photographic driver’s licence*
• A provisional photographic driver’s licence*
• A biometric immigration document, including eVisas
• A European Economic Area (EAA) photographic ID card
• An identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standard Scheme hologram (PASS card)
• A Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• A Ministry of Defence Form 100 (HM Armed Forces Veteran Card)
• A Blue Badge
• An Older Person’s Bus Pass
• A Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
• An Oyster 60+ Card
• A Freedom Pass

*Document must be issued by the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth Country.

You must bring the original document with you as we cannot accept a photocopy, photograph or picture on your phone (unless it is an eVisa).

Can my photo ID be checked in private?

Yes, you can ask a member of staff to be taken to a private area in the polling station. You don’t have to give a reason to have a private ID check.

Depending on the polling station this may be a separate room, or behind a privacy screen.

What if my photo ID is expired?

If your photo ID has expired you can still use it, as long as it is still a good likeness to you.

What if the name on my photo ID is different to the electoral register?

If your name is slightly different, for example Joe Bloggs instead of Joseph Bloggs, you can still use your photo ID.

If you have changed your name substantially because, for example, you have got married, you must contact Electoral Services using the Electoral Services contact form to update your name on the electoral register.

If you’ve changed your name on the electoral register but not updated your photo ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (GOV.UK)

Alternatively, you can take evidence of your change of name (for example, your marriage certificate or deed poll certificate) into the polling station to support your photo ID.

What if I lose or damage my photo ID before the election?

If your photo ID becomes lost, destroyed, damaged beyond use, or is stolen prior to polling day, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (GOV.UK) up to 5pm, six working days before polling day.

If your photo ID becomes damaged after the deadline, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote up to 5pm on polling day.

If you think you will need to apply for an emergency proxy, call Electoral Services.

I have a disability – how can I vote in the polling station?

All polling stations are provided with extra equipment to help you vote independently, depending on your disability. You can ask a member of staff for:

• Large print sample ballot papers
• A magnifier
• A tactile voting device
• A pencil grip

You can also use your phone into the booth to use a magnifying app, text-to-speech apps or a torch to improve the lighting, but you must not take any photos.

If you would like help filling in your ballot paper, you can bring a companion into the booth with you. The presiding officer will need to make a record of this, so make sure that you tell the presiding officer when you arrive.

You can also ask the presiding officer to complete the ballot paper on your behalf.

Who are the people standing outside the polling station?

There might be people waiting outside the polling station and they may ask you for the number on your poll card.

Usually, these people are volunteering on behalf of candidates and are called ‘tellers’. They may ask you for the number on your poll card on your way in or out of the polling station.

They are allowed to be there and to ask for the information, but they are not part of the voting process, and you don’t have to give them any information if you don’t want to.

If you are concerned about the behaviour of a teller, speak to a member of staff at the polling station.

Last updated: 06/02/2025 13:09