Election Day

How do you navigate Election Day?

If you’ve voted by post, you should've sent your postal vote pack off by now. Your postal vote must reach your polling station by 10pm on July 4th. If you haven’t yet sent it off by now or you think it may not reach your polling station in time, you can take your postal vote pack down to your local polling station.

If you’ve chosen to vote by proxy, we recommend checking in with the person you’ve selected (if you can). Make sure they’re at the correct polling station to cast your vote and they know how you want your vote cast. Give them a call or message to confirm they’ve cast your vote correctly and in time.

 

Voting at the Polling Station

  • Check the address of your local polling station and make sure you turn up to the right one and before 10pm. They can get busy, particularly towards the end of the day. If there's a queue at your polling station, you'll still be able to vote as long as you joined the queue before 10pm.
  • Poll Card: You should have received one in the post to weeks before Election Day. Whilst you don’t need your card to vote, it may make the check in process easier
  • Voter ID: Make sure you have a valid form of photo ID! You won’t be able to vote without it!
  • Check in Process: When you arrive at the polling station, a member of staff at the check in desk will ask for your name, address and photo ID. If you wear a face covering, such as a veil for religious purposes or a mask for medical grounds, you will be asked to remove them whilst the staff confirm your ID. If you’d like your ID to be confirmed privately, this can be requested at the desk, along with a female ID checker if needed.
  • Once confirmed, the staff member will cross your name off their register and hand you your ballot paper
  • You’ll then take your ballot paper across to a polling booth where you’ll be able to cast your vote in private
  • Make sure you read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully before you choose how to cast your vote
  • Cast your vote with the pencils provided - take care not to write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted
  • If you make a mistake, do not put your ballot paper in the ballot box. Alert the polling staff and ask for a replacement ballot paper
  • Once you’re done, fold your ballot paper and put in the in ballot box - these will be clearly signed and visible
  • Now you can leave the polling station and wait for the results!

 

 

What else do I need to know?

 

If you have any access needs whilst at the Polling Station, make a member of staff aware, who will be able to accommodate you. They can provide assistance such as a tactile voting device for visually impaired voters, assistance in moving around the polling station for voters with mobility issues, easy read instructions and more. You can find a more information from the accessible voting guide here .

You can ask polling station staff for help, or you can bring someone with you. Anyone over the age of 18 can come with you to help you cast your vote. They don’t need to be eligible to vote in that election.

 

 

Please be aware that taking photos inside a polling station and especially your ballot paper is not allowed. Voters are more than welcome to take photos outside of the polling station before you enter and once you leave, however you will not be allowed to take any once you step inside.

 

 

If you arrive at a polling station without an accepted form of photo ID, you will be asked to return with ID that is accepted.

Polling stations will display the list of accepted photo ID and polling station staff will be trained on what types of ID are accepted. If you think your ID has been mistakenly rejected, you should notify the Presiding Officer in the polling station.

 

 

These will be polling day staff used to welcome voters, remind them of ID and help speed up the voting process.

 

 

You might see people waiting outside the polling station who ask you for the number on your poll card. These people are called 'tellers', and are volunteering on behalf of candidates. They use the information people give them to check who has voted, and remind people who haven't to do so. They are allowed to be there and to ask for the information, but you don't have to give them any information if you don't want to. If you are concerned about the conduct of a teller, speak to a member of staff at the polling station.

 

 

There are no rules that say campaigning can't take place on polling day. However, campaigning is not allowed to take place within the polling station itself, and campaigners must not obstruct the polling station or stop voters from entering. If you're concerned about something, contact the elections team at your local council.

 

 

In-Person Voting: When voting in person at the polling station, you may encounter situations where your appearance or presentation differs from the gender marker on your ID. Polling staff are trained to respect your gender identity and should not question or challenge your appearance.

Support and Assistance

Polling Station Support: If you experience any difficulties or discomfort at the polling station due to your gender identity, don’t hesitate to ask for support. Polling staff are trained to assist voters and should respect your identity.

Trans and Non-Binary Organizations: Seek support from organizations that specialize in trans and non-binary rights and advocacy. They can provide resources, guidance, and assistance with any voting-related issues you may encounter.

Safety and Privacy

Confidentiality: Your vote is confidential, and polling staff are required to maintain the privacy of your identity and voting choices. You do not need to disclose your trans or non-binary status to anyone at the polling station.

Personal Safety: If you have concerns about safety or harassment while voting, consider bringing a friend or support person with you to the polling station. You have the right to feel safe and comfortable exercising your right to vote.

 

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