Vote at a polling station

If you have not already registered, you will need to before you can vote at a polling station on election day.

Register to vote

Find your polling station

Your polling station address is printed on your poll card letter. You can also find your polling station online.

Voter ID

You will need to show accepted photo ID to receive a ballot paper and vote.

Find out more about Voter ID.

What you need to do

On election day, the polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm.

You must take your accepted photo ID with you.

You do not need to take your poll card letter with you.

Your polling station location and map can be found on your poll card letter.

Find out more about voting in person on The Electoral Commission website.

Polling station accessibility and voter support

Polling stations should all be accessible. To help you vote, we provide: 

  • a ramp to help with access to the station
  • one voting compartment with a lower writing desk
  • large print copies of ballot papers
  • a Tactile Voting Device (TVD) to help those with sight problems vote unaided
  • a credit card sized magnifier
  • spare chairs
  • pen and pencil grips
  • pen and paper to ask questions.

The ballot box will be at a lower height so all voters can put in their ballot paper unaided.

Voters can use mobile phone apps for magnification or as audio readers.

The presiding officer can either help place a vote on the voter's behalf or assist a voter.

A voter can bring a companion to help them.

Any companions who help someone to vote will be asked to sign a declaration so there is a formal record.

Support in British Sign Language (BSL)

The Electoral Commission have published a short video on voting at a polling station in BSL.

Voter support guides

Several organisations have published guides on voting which you may find useful:

United Response Easy Read guide to voting in local elections

Electoral Commission Voter Booklet in Easy Read for people with learning disabilities

My Vote My Voice

My Vote My Voice is a campaign to encourage people with learning disabilities and autism to vote.

Their website contains support and information about:

  • registering to vote
  • how to vote
  • what your vote does
  • your rights to vote.

Visit the My Vote my Voice website

Protect your vote

Watch this short video about protecting your vote when voting at a polling station:

Ward changes

There are new electoral arrangements including new ward boundaries and changes to the number of councillors.