It's your vote, don't lose it

6 May 2015 12:54 PM

Voters are being reminded to make sure they are ready to take part in the General Election on Thursday 7 May. Local elections are also taking place across England, excluding London, and there are five mayoral elections in England too.

The Electoral Commission is advising voters to:

• Make sure they vote in time. Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm. Any voter who arrives at the polling station before 10pm and is still waiting to vote at 10pm will be able to. Legislation was changed in 2013 to allow this to happen following a recommendation by the Commission.
• Check their poll card which says where the polling station is. Voters can only cast their vote at the polling station stated on the poll card. You don’t need your polling card to vote, but it can speed up the process.
• Take their postal vote to their polling station and hand it in if they haven’t had a chance to post it in time.
• Ask staff at the polling station if they need advice on the voting process and how to mark their ballot paper.
• Use the pencil provided in the polling to booth to mark their ballot paper. Voters can use their own pen to mark their ballot paper if they prefer.
• Only mark one ‘X’ for the candidate they want to be elected as their Member of Parliament.
• Remember that pictures of you before you go into or after you leave the polling station are great to use on social media posts but don’t take a picture of yourself inside the polling station as if you post this it could be a breach of the law.

Andrew Scallan, Director of Electoral Administration at the Electoral Commission, said:

“This year’s elections will be a chance for voters to have their say on the issues that affect them. We don’t want anyone to miss out because they didn’t know what to expect on polling day. Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm, so plan now when you’re going to cast your vote. Information on how to mark your ballot paper will be available inside the polling station.” 

Voters with a disability are also being reminded by the Electoral Commission that there should be no barriers to them casting their vote on 7 May.
Acting Returning Officers (AROs), who are responsible for the conduct of the poll, must ensure that the voting process is accessible to all. The Electoral Commission has provided guidance to AROs to help them meet their equality obligations and ensure that everyone who is entitled to cast their vote can do so. Polling station staff should also have received training on the assistance that is available to any voter wishing to vote in person at a polling station.

Voters can find more information about casting their vote in person athttp://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/how-do-i-vote/voting-in-person 

For further information contact:
Karim Aziz in the Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704 orkaziz@electoralcommission.org.uk 
Out of office hours 07789 920 414

Notes to editors

1. The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. Our aim is integrity and public confidence in the UK’s democratic process. We regulate party and election finance and set standards for well-run elections and are responsible for the conduct and regulation of referendums held under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000).
2. To see what any voter with a disability is entitled to in order to ensure there are no barriers to casting their vote click here
3. A photographic image of a ballot paper, taken in a polling station, would be information ‘obtained in a polling station’ and could breach the secrecy requirements under Section 66 of the Representation of the People Act 1983. Pictures outside the polling station are fine to share on social media sites.