Your Guide To Voting In The UK General Election

The day of the UK general election has arrived, where millions of voters will have the opportunity to elect their local MPs and the UK’s next government. Here's your guide to the general election and how to vote.

How does a general election work?

The UK is made up of 650 areas known as constituencies. In a general election, the voters within each constituency vote for a Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the House of Commons.

The voting system used to elect the MPs is known as First Past the Post (FPTP). On election day, voters receive a ballot with a list of candidates and put a cross next to the person they would like to be elected. After the votes are counted, the candidate with the most votes wins and becomes the MP for the constituency and takes one of the available seats in the House of Commons.

For a party to win the election, they must win 326 of the 650 seats available. The last general election was held in December 2019, where the Conservative Party won 362 seats. The party with the most seats typically forms the next government, and their leader becomes the prime minister.

Voting at Polling Stations

When do the polling stations open, and which one should I go to?

Polling stations opened today (Thursday 4th July) at 7:00 BST and will close at 22:00. Voters are allowed to vote as long as they are in the queue at the polling station by 22:00. Any voters who join the line after 22:00 will not be allowed to vote.

Voters can only vote at their local polling station, which is written on their polling card and can also be found online.

It should be noted that the polling station may not be the same for voters as it has been for previous elections due to new constituency boundaries being formed. This is because of population changes and to even out voter numbers across the country.

There are approximately 40,000 polling stations in the UK and 46 million people are eligible to vote.

Do I need to bring ID?

Yes! This is the first general election where voters are required to provide photo ID after new rules that were introduced in May 2023.

Voters only need to provide one form of ID, however it must be the original copy. Photocopies and digital versions of your ID will not be accepted.

You do not need to take your polling card to the polling station, but it may speed up the process. The clerks at the desk will have a list of people who can vote at the polling station and can look your name up.

Accepted forms of ID can be seen below:

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International Travel	Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country (including an Irish Passport Card)
Driving and Parking	Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence) A Blue Badge
Local Travel	Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government Disabled Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government 60+ London Oyster Photocard funded by Transport for London Freedom Pass Scottish National Entitlement Card issued for the purpose of concessionary travel (including a 60+, disabled or under 22s bus pass) 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
Proof of Age	Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
Other Government Issued Documents	Biometric residence permit Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card) National identity card issued by an EEA state Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland Voter Authority Certificate Anonymous Elector's Document

If your ID has been lost or stolen, those in England, Scotland and Wales can apply for an emergency proxy vote until 17:00 on polling day. This is someone you nominate to vote on your behalf. Both you and your proxy must be registered to vote.

What happens when I get there?

When you arrive at the polling station, you will be required to show your ID (see the list of accepted IDs above). If you wear a face covering, you will be asked to briefly remove it for the clerk to check your face against the photo on your ID. There will be a private area available for this and women can request for a female member of staff to confirm their identity.

Once the desk clerks have confirmed your identity you will be given a ballot paper and directed to a booth. Once in the booth, read the ballot paper, it will explain how to fill it in at the top of the paper.

The ballot will contain the list of all the people standing for election in your area, and the party they are standing for. If they are not part of a party, they will be listed as Independent. Next to each name will be a box for you to put a cross in to show which candidate you are voting for.

You should only vote for one candidate.

If you make a mistake, you can hand the ballot paper back to the clerks and ask for a new one.

What if I don't like any of the candidates?

If you don't like any of the candidates in your area, you can also spoil your ballot. These ballots are recorded, but do not count for any candidate. Signing your name on your ballot will also count as a spoilt ballot.

Can I take a photo?

Please note that no photography is allowed in polling stations to prevent voters being intimidated or having their votes revealed. However, you can take photos outside.

Can I tell people how I voted?

You can tell other people how you voted, but revealing how someone else has voted, even by accident, can see you face a fine of up to £5000 or six months in prison.

You cannot discuss candidates or politics inside the polling station.

Can I bring my pets and children?

Pets are not typically allowed inside the polling station unless they are assistance dogs. However, the local authority may allow dogs, but this is at their discression.

Children are allowed in the polling station, but they cannot make a mark on your ballot paper.

Who are the people outside the polling station?

The people outside the polling station are "tellers". These are volunteers who work for the candidates and may ask for the number on your polling card. They use this information to check who has voted so they can remind people who haven't voted yet. You do not have to give them your polling card number.

Postal and Emergency Proxy Votes

What if my postal vote hasn’t arrived?

If you are voting by post and your ballot hasn’t arrived yet, you can be issued a replacement voting pack by your local council’s returning officer until 17:00 on polling day. You should contact your council’s electoral services team as soon as possible as the replacement packs will not be available at the polling stations.

You must hand your completed pack in at your polling station by 22:00 on polling day, or hand it in at the address on the postal voting pack by 17:00 on polling day for your vote to count. You do not need ID to hand in the pack.

Postal voters can also drop off a maximum of five postal vote packs for friends and family. This does not apply to political candidates and party campaigners, who can only handle packs belonging to close family or people they regularly care for.

In Northern Ireland, campaigners cannot handle postal votes, and they will not be accepted at polling stations.

What if I can’t get to the polling station?

Voters that can no longer vote in person due to work commitments or medical emergencies can request an emergency proxy vote before 17:00 on polling day in England, Scotland and Wales. Both you and your proxy must be registered to vote.

Those with postal votes that have not arrived in time are not eligible for an emergency proxy vote.