Voting at a polling station

ID that you’ll need to vote in person

All voters in England need to show a valid form of photo ID to vote at polling stations. You can find out more on our photo ID information page.

This is our step-by-step guide for voting at a polling station.

  1. The staff at the polling station will give you a ballot paper listing the candidates you can vote for. You may be given more than one ballot paper if there is more than one election taking place in your local area on the same day.

  2. Take your ballot paper into a polling booth so that no one can see how you vote. Read the ballot paper carefully, it will tell you how to cast your vote. Do not write anything else on the paper or your vote may not be counted.

  3. Mark your ballot paper according to the instructions. A pencil will be provided for you to do this, but you may use your own pen if you prefer.

  4. If you make a mistake on your ballot paper, don't worry – so long as you haven't already put it in the ballot box, just let the polling station staff know and they can issue you with a replacement ballot paper.

  5. Fold your completed ballot paper in half, show the back to the Presiding Officer and then pop it in the ballot box – and that's it done!

If you're not sure where to go, visit our Find your polling station pages.