How to register?

You can register to vote online here https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

However, you have now missed the cut off point for this General Election.

 

Who am I voting for?

This vote will be to determine our new Prime Minister and party leading the UK. 

In the UK, the prime minister is not directly elected. MPs are elected and they represent specific areas of the country – e.g. Boris Johnson - Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Jeremy Corbyn – Islington North. You will be asked to vote for candidates for the parties that Johnson, Corbyn and other political leaders represent. 

The leader of the party who gets the most MPs will either be asked to form a government on their own or try to establish a coalition with another party.   

Find more information on how this vote may affect you here.

 

What happens on December 12th?

Voting begins and the majority of the country will vote in person at a polling station (usually in a public building, such as a school or local hall).

 

Your poll card

You’ll be sent a poll card just before an election telling you when to vote and at which polling station. You can only vote at the polling station location on your card.

If you have not received a poll card but think you should, contact your local Electoral Registration Office.

You can still vote if you’ve lost your card.

 

When you can vote

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on 12 December (‘polling day’).

When you get to the polling station, give your name and address to the staff inside the polling station when you arrive.

You’ll be given a ballot paper containing a list of the people, parties or options you can vote for.

You do not have to take your poll card with you.

 

ID you need to bring

If you live in England, Wales or Scotland you do not need to bring any identification to vote.

You will need to show photo ID to vote in Northern Ireland (your passport, driving licence, Electoral Identity Card or certain kinds of Translink Smart pass).

 

Filling in your ballot paper

Follow the instructions on the notices in the polling booth and on the top of the ballot paper to vote.

 

Voting if you’re disabled

If you’re disabled, your local Electoral Registration Office can tell you about:

·     physical access, for example wheelchair ramps and disabled parking spaces

·     low-level polling booths

·     equipment for voters with a visual impairment

Every polling station must provide at least one large print display version of the ballot paper and a special tactile voting device (TVD) to help people with sight loss.

 

Voting by post

You must apply for a postal vote if you want to vote by post, for example if:

·     you’re away from home

·     you’re abroad and want to vote in England, Scotland or Wales

You do not need to give a reason unless you’re voting in Northern Ireland.

If you’re going to be abroad on election day, you can vote by proxy. It takes time to receive your postal voting pack and send it back.

 

Apply for a postal vote

You can apply to vote by post for one of the following:

·     a single election on a specific date

·     a specific period if you want to vote in England, Scotland or Wales

·     permanently

If you want to vote by post in the General Election, apply by 5pm on 26 November to receive your postal voting pack. Your postal vote must then arrive at your Electoral Office in the UK by 10pm on 12 December.

There’s a different form to apply to vote by post in Northern Ireland. Apply by 5pm on 21 November.

 

Change where your postal vote card is sent

Make a new application for a postal vote if you move house or you’ll be away from home when the postal vote is sent out.

There’s a different form for Northern Ireland.

When voting by post, you should:

·     mark your vote on your ballot paper in secret

·     fill in the postal voting statement

·     put the ballot and statement in the envelope provided

·     seal the envelope yourself

·     Post your ballot back as quickly as possible to make sure it’s counted.

If you’re too late to post your ballot paper

Take it to your local polling station by 10pm, or Electoral Registration Office before they close.

In Northern Ireland, take it to your local Area Electoral Office before they close.

 

Replace a lost or damaged ballot paper

Your ballot paper needs to clearly display your details and voting choice. If it has been damaged you need to get another one.

You can either:

·     ask your local Electoral Registration Office to post a replacement

·     collect a replacement from your local Electoral Registration Office up to 5pm on election day (or the day before in Northern Ireland)

You cannot vote at a polling station if you registered to vote by post but your ballot paper was lost or damaged.

 

Voting by proxy

If you’re unable to vote in person you can ask someone to vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy vote.

You can only apply for a proxy vote under certain circumstances, including:

·     being away on polling day

·     having a medical issue or disability

·     not being able to vote in person because of work or military service

·     How to apply for a proxy vote

Apply for a proxy vote using a paper form. You need to send it to your local Electoral Registration Office.

You need to apply by 5pm on 4 December to vote by proxy in the General Election in England, Scotland or Wales.

There’s a different form to apply to vote by proxy in Northern Ireland. Apply by 5pm on 21 November.

 

Voting from abroad

How you vote when you’re abroad depends on:

·     whether you’ll be abroad temporarily or living abroad

·     where you want to vote

·     If you’ll be abroad temporarily

You can vote by post or proxy if you’ll be abroad temporarily on election day, for example on holiday or a work trip.

 

Voting in England, Scotland or Wales

After you’ve registered to vote, you can apply:

·     to vote by post

·     for someone else to vote for you (vote by proxy)

If you want to vote by proxy in the General Election on 12 December, apply by 5pm on 4 December.

If you want to vote by post, apply by 5pm on 26 November to get your postal voting pack. Your postal vote must then arrive at your Electoral Office in the UK by 10pm on 12 December.

 

Voting in Northern Ireland

There’s a different process to apply to vote by post or proxy if you live in Northern Ireland and will be abroad temporarily on election day.

If you will not have time to receive and return your postal ballot in Northern Ireland before going abroad you’ll need to vote by proxy. You cannot apply to have your postal vote sent outside the UK.

The deadline for applying for a proxy vote in Northern Ireland is 5pm on 21 November.

 

If you’re moving or living abroad

You can only vote in UK Parliament and European Parliament elections. You may be able to vote in referendums. Each referendum has different rules on who can vote in it.

You need to register as an overseas voter.

If you’re registered in Northern Ireland you cannot vote by post from abroad.

You can vote by post or proxy, if you’re eligible. You’ll be asked to make this choice when you register.

You’ll then need to apply by filling in and posting one of the following:

·     the paper form to apply for a postal vote

·     the paper form to apply for a proxy vote

You can also ask for it to be emailed or posted to you from the service.

 

Get help voting

You can contact your Electoral Register Office to find out when postal votes might be sent. This could help you decide whether to vote by proxy or by post.