How to vote

- Overview
- Voting in person
- Voting by post
- Voting by proxy
- Accessible voting

Overview

In order to vote in a Local Government or UK Parliamentary election you must be on the electoral register.

A few weeks before the election you will be sent a poll card. This will tell you whether you are able to vote in person at your local polling station or by post.

After the polls close, the votes are counted and the result declared, normally the following morning.

Voting in person

Your poll card will tell you the address and opening times of your local polling station.

You don't need to take your poll card with you to vote. If you lose it or forget to take it you will still be able to vote, you will just be asked to confirm your name and address.

You will be given a ballot paper. In the privacy of the voting booth mark an 'X' next to the candidate you want to vote for. Put your folded ballot paper into the ballot box.

You must bring photo ID with you when you go to the polling station, or you will not be able to vote.

Most people will already have a suitable ID, however, it must be an original document and not a photocopy. For example you can use:

passport
driving licence
blue badge
a PASS card (proof of age)
biometric immigration document
concessionary bus pass
disabled persons bus pass

View more information

Voting by post

Anyone can apply to vote by post, instead of going to a polling station.

You will receive your ballot paper around two weeks before the day of the election.

To make sure nobody else can use your vote your ballot paper arrives with a security statement. You need to sign this, give your date of birth and return it with your completed ballot paper.

Your signature and information will be checked against your original application.

We must receive your ballot paper and security statement by 10 pm on polling day or your vote will not be counted.

Postal votes not returned via Royal Mail

The law has changed for any postal vote not returned via Royal Mail.

If you forget to post your ballot paper you can hand it in at:

the main information desk in the civic centre, to a member of staff authorised to receive them
your local polling station on the day of the election

For either option you will need to complete a return form.

Your vote will not be counted if left without completing a return form.

By law you can only hand in your postal vote and up to five others.

Voting by proxy

A proxy vote means you can get someone to vote on your behalf if you can't get to a polling station.

You can apply to vote by proxy:

for a single election on a specific date
permanently
for a specific period if you want to vote in England, Scotland and Wales

You can only apply to vote by proxy under certain circumstances, including:

if you are registered blind
if you have a physical disability
if you are away from home because of your job or a course
if you are not able to vote in person because of work or military service

You may also be able to apply for a temporary proxy vote if you are going on holiday, or will be in hospital at the time of the election.

You need to give the reason why you're applying for a proxy vote.

In most cases, you need someone to sign your application form to confirm your reasons for wanting a proxy vote. The application form will tell you who needs to sign it.

Visit the Your Vote Matters website to download an application form (opens new window).

Please return your completed application to Electoral Services, Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead NE8 1HH.