How to vote

Voting in person

Make sure that you are registered to vote by the election or referendum deadline given on our official notices, poll cards or web pages.

The deadline is usually 12 working days before polling day.

Once registered to vote, you can vote at your appointed polling station from 7am to 10pm on the day of election.

You only need to register to vote once, unless you change your address, name, or nationality. You do not need to re-register every time an election or referendum is held.

Polling station details will appear on your poll card. This will be sent out to you a few weeks before each election.

If you lose or forget your poll card you can still vote without it, but it is easier if you have it with you.

At the polling station

• Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm on polling day
• You do not have to take your poll card with you to vote, but it can save time if you do
• When you arrive at the polling station, go to the issue desk and tell the staff your name and address
• When staff have confirmed that you are registered to vote and in the correct polling station, show the staff your photo ID - you can ask to do this in private if you wish
• You will be given your ballot paper(s), which will show the candidates and their political parties or state if they are an independent candidate
• If you need help or are confused about what to do, ask the polling station staff for assistance - they are there to help
• If you need help to mark your ballot paper, you can take a companion with you - you must tell the staff if you wish to do this, as they need to record the details of anyone who has not marked the ballot paper themselves
• You can also ask the officer in charge of the polling station, known as the Presiding Officer, to help you vote - they will also keep a record of whom they have marked a ballot paper for
• If you or someone you know has a disability, you can take someone you trust to help you or you can ask the staff to help you - you can use your own device to assist you in the polling booth or ask to use the tactile voting device provided
• The top of the ballot paper will tell you how many candidates you can vote for
• Go to a polling booth so that you can make your vote in secret - you must not let anyone else into the polling booth with you or see you mark the ballot paper
• Put an X next to the candidate or candidates you want to vote for, fold your ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box
• If you make a mistake, you can ask for a replacement ballot paper (your spoilt paper does not go into the ballot box)
• When the votes are counted, the candidate with the most votes is elected

Tellers - the people outside the polling station

You may sometimes see people sitting outside the polling station. These are known as 'tellers' and are there on behalf of a candidate or political party.

They are not an official part of the election process, but they are allowed to ask you for your details as you leave the polling station after you have voted. You do not have to give them the information.

Last updated 02 September 2026