On polling day
Polling stations will open from 07:00 to 22:00 on 7 May.
You can only vote at the polling station you are registered at. The details will be printed on your poll card, or you can look them up online at https://wheredoivote.co.uk/
Unless you have registered as an anonymous voter, you don’t need to have your poll card with you to be able to vote, but it does speed the process up.
Make sure to check your poll card for any changes to your usual polling station location.
Busy times in polling stations often include 07:00 to 09:30, lunchtime, 15:30 to 16:30 and 18:00 to 20:00. Trying to avoid peak times may mean you don’t have to wait as long in any queue.
Checking photo ID can lead to queues at busier times. Polling station staff will keep any queues moving as quickly as possible.
You can find the list of accepted forms of photo ID on the Electoral Commission website.
If you are queuing to vote at a polling station by 22:00 you will still be able to vote, as long as you are able to show an accepted form of photo ID.
If you go to your polling station without an accepted form of photo ID you will not be allowed to vote. However, you will be able to go back before the polls close at 22:00 with a different form of accepted photo ID.
You only need to show one form of accepted photo ID to be able to vote.
Your photo ID needs to be the original version, not a photocopy, app* or a photo on a phone. (*With the exception of an official eVisa or digital veterans card).
The name on the photo ID you show at the polling station should show the same name you have used to register to vote. If the names are different, please bring additional and original documents such as a marriage certificate, divorce papers, deed poll paperwork, a birth certificate, or a bill.
You can ask to show your photo ID in a private or screened-off area of the polling station if you prefer.
If you are wearing any kind of face covering polling station staff must ask you to show your face to check it matches your photo ID.
- A private or screened-off area of the polling station will be available for you to remove your face covering.
- A mirror will be available for you to be able to replace your face covering back before you return to the main part of the polling station to vote.
Forgot to send your postal vote back in time? Completed and sealed postal vote packs can be dropped into any polling station in the same electoral area between 07:00 and 22:00.
- The reception desk at our office/s at Quadrant, The Silverlink North, Cobalt Business Park, NE27 0BY.
- You will have to fill a form in when you hand your postal vote in.
- You can only hand in your postal vote plus up to five others for each election being run. Any more than six in total for each election will be rejected.
- Any postal vote pack posted by hand into our letterbox will be automatically rejected. You must deliver it in person and fill in the form for it to be valid.