Vote in person

How to vote in person

If you're voting in person, you should:

Before visiting the polling station please consider:

• COVID symptoms - If you develop COVID symptoms on the day ofthe election. we would strongly advise you not to attend in person. Please contact the Electoral Services office as soon as possible 03000 261 2112 to discuss other ways you can cast your vote.
• The time of day - Certain periods of the day may be busier than others. Please be mindful that there will be limited access within the polling station, and you may have to wait in a queue outside the building. Please also consider the weather conditions and prepare appropriately.
• Visiting alone - Unless absolutely necessary or unavoidable, please enter the polling station alone in order to maintain distancing and avoid crowding.

At the polling station:

• Go to the polling station, which is stated on your polling card. If you're unsure where this is, use our postcode lookup to find it - find your polling station.
• When you arrive at the polling station, be sure to read all signage carefully and follow the instructions you are given.
• Hands - Sanitiser will be available. Please use before AND after you cast your vote.
• Face - As with other public settings, you must wear a mask covering your nose and mouth at all times when in the building. (Current exceptions still apply)
• Space - Social distancing of 2 metres, or more where possible, is advised. Please be mindful of this when approaching the desk. The polling staff will be behind screens but will give dear instructions of what you will need to do.
• Polling staff will ask for your name and address. If you have your polling card, it will make it easier for us to find your name on the electoral register. 
• The Presiding Officer will issue you your ballot paper(s) .
• To guard against duplicate voting, we will mark your name on the electoral register.
• Take the paper to one of the polling booths, which are screened to ensure secrecy. Mark each ballot paper(s), as per instructions on the notices in the polling booth and on top of the ballot paper(s). If you make a mistake or spoil your ballot paper(s), you can take it back to the presiding officer and ask for another.
• Fold the ballot paper(s), so other people cannot see your choice, post the ballot paper(s) in the ballot box.

Bring your own pen or pencil

We recommend that you bring your own pen or pencil to clearly mark your ballot paper. We will still provide pencils as usual, but any transmission risk is significantly reduced if you use your own.

 Poll card

Although not essential, you may wish to bring your poll card with you on the day as it will speed up the voting process. Please note however that the polling station staff cannot dispose of this for you, so make sure you take it away with you and dispose of it securely.

If you've lost your poll card letter, you don't need it to vote. If you're not sure where to your polling station is, use our postcode lookup - .

Recently moved house

If you are registered to vote, but have not registered your new address, you can still vote using your previous address, as this is where you are registered on the electoral roll.

To check where the polling station for your old address is, use our use our postcode lookup to .

Other ways to vote

If you are worried about visiting the polling station to cast your vote. Please be aware that you can arrange to have a postal vote. This means that the ballot paper(s) will be sent to your address for you to complete and post back to us. For more information go to Apply to vote by post.