A guide to election day
We know that things can sometimes be a little confusing - here you can find a complete guide to election day so you know what to expect and what you need to do.
Where's my polling station?
Use our polling station finder to find out where your local polling station is. Your polling card will also have details of your local polling station on.
Do not forget you need to go to your designated polling station; you cannot go to a different one, for example, near where you work.
The polling station will be marked clearly with signs.
Polling station staff will be on hand if you need any help or assistance.
Key times
Polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm.
Usually the busiest times are at the start and end of traditional working day and around the time of the school run.
What do I need to take with me?
You will need to bring one form of photographic ID to the polling station to be able to get your ballot paper to vote.
If you do not bring photo ID to the polling station you will not be able to vote.
Whatever form of ID you bring it must be the original, no copies will be accepted.
What happens when I get there?
Polling station staff will be on hand to greet you and invite you in as soon as polls open at 7am.
On arrival please make sure you have your photo ID ready to show polling station staff so they can verify your identity and issue you with your ballot papers.
The polling station staff will look at your photo ID and ask you to confirm your name and address.
The staff will give you a ballot paper listing who you can vote for. Depending on the elections taking place, you may have more than one ballot paper to complete.
Take your ballot paper to a polling booth. There will be a shelf for you to lean and write on. There will be pen and pencils available for you to mark your ballot paper.
How do I complete the ballot paper?
Take your time: read the ballot paper carefully and complete it in line with the instructions.
Do not write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted.
If you make a mistake, do not worry - as long as you haven't already put it in the ballot box, just let the polling station staff know and they can give you a replacement ballot paper.
What do I do with the ballot paper then?
Once you're done, fold your completed ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box. This will be on the desk beside the poll clerks.
What if I need help?
If you're not sure what to do, or need any help, just ask the staff at the polling station - they will be happy to assist you.
What if I have access issues?
If you have a disability which means you cannot fill in the ballot paper yourself, you can ask the presiding officer - the person in charge of the polling station - to mark the ballot paper for you, or you can take someone along with you to help you.
If you have a visual impairment, you can ask for a large print ballot paper to refer to when you cast your vote, or a special tactile voting device that is designed so you can mark your ballot paper on your own.
We try to ensure that all our polling stations are as accessible as possible. If you have any questions please call the Electoral Services office on 01702 215010.
What are tellers? Why are they asking for the number on my poll card?
You might see people 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 or parties. They will use the information you give them to check who has voted, and to remind people who haven't yet voted, to do so.
They are allowed to be there and to ask for the information, but you do not have to give them any information if you do not want to.
Who can I take with me?
You can go along to the polling station with whomever you like, but only those registered to vote at that station will be able to go inside. You must not be accompanied into the polling booth by another adult, unless you have a disability, in which case you can take someone in to help you, or you can ask one of the polling station staff for their help.
Children are welcome at polling stations. While your child must not mark the ballot paper for you, you will be allowed to take them into the polling booth with you.
Animals, apart from assistance dogs, are not usually allowed inside polling stations, and we do not recommend you leaving them unattended outside polling station, so please bear this in mind if you do decide to take them with you.