Elections - voting

You can only vote in elections if your name is on the Register of Electors.

About this service

The following people are allowed to vote (provided their name is included on the current Register of Electors):

• if you are eighteen years or over.
• all British, Commonwealth, Irish and other European Union citizens.
• overseas electors
• members of HM Forces and their spouses
• crown servants employed outside the United Kingdom
• european citizens are allowed to vote in European and Local Elections only.
• overseas Electors are allowed to vote in Parliamentary and European Elections only.           

For 1 May 2008 elections, poll cards will be delivered in early April.  Each member of the household who is eligible to vote should receive a poll card which informs them of the date of the election, where their polling station is and the hours of poll. You do not need to take the poll card with you to be able to vote.

• for all Elections the hours of poll are 7.00am to 10.00pm
• on arrival at your designated polling station, the Presiding Officer will ask you to confirm your name and address and will issue you with a ballot paper.
• you should take the ballot paper to the voting booth and mark with a "X" the candidate you wish to vote for.
• fold the ballot paper and deposit it in the ballot box.           

If you are unable to go to your Polling Station on Election Day, you can apply to vote by post or proxy.