4. How do I vote in a polling station?

If you’ve not already done so, please make sure you check out our page on what happens at a polling station before you read on.

What do I do once I’ve been given my ballot paper?

There’s a chance that you’ll be able to vote in different elections on the same day, so you may be given more than one ballot paper.

Take your time to read everything properly – there will be instructions on the ballot paper and on posters in the polling station. You can also ask polling station staff for help on how to mark your ballot paper, but they cannot provide you with information about election candidates or suggest who or what to vote for.

Take your ballot paper into a polling booth. These are private, screened areas designed so that no one else can see how you vote. If it’s busy, you may have to wait for a free booth. Make sure you give people plenty of space, so everyone can cast their vote in secret.

Clearly mark your ballot paper with an X – not a tick – next to the candidate or option you would like to vote for.

Unless instructed otherwise, you must vote for only one candidate or option.

Important!

Do not write anything to identify yourself in any way on the ballot paper, such as your name or a signature, as this will mean your vote will be voided and won’t be counted. Voting must be anonymous.

Help for people who are visually impaired

If you are visually impaired and want to vote independently, polling station staff can provide you with a copy of a large print ballot paper to take into the booth with you, or an A5 magnifier or tactile voting device to help mark your ballot paper. Coloured acetate overlays and additional polling booth lighting are also available on request.

You can also use your phone in the booth to magnify the text on the ballot paper or read the text out to you – just no photos!

Can I bring my own pen or pencil?

There will be a pencil in the polling booth, but you can use your own pen or pencil if you prefer.

If you are finding it difficult to use the provided pencil, polling station staff can offer you a pencil with a writing grip.

What happens if I need help filling in my ballot paper?

If you can’t fill in the ballot paper yourself, you can ask the polling station staff to mark the ballot paper for you, or you can ask someone you trust such as a parent or carer.

You’re also allowed to ask someone you trust, like a parent or a friend who is over 18 and able to vote in the election, to come with you to the polling station to support you whilst you vote.

What happens if I make a mistake?

If you make a mistake on your ballot paper, don’t panic, it’s fine! As long as you have not put your ballot in the ballot box, staff can issue you with a replacement. Just explain to a member of staff what you have done, and they will be able to issue you with a new ballot.

What do I need to do once I’ve marked my ballot paper?

When you’ve filled in your ballot paper, fold it in half and put it into the ballot box for your polling station. These are large boxes which will be clearly labelled and obviously placed, but if you are not sure just check with a member of staff. 

You should also not discuss your vote in the polling station with anyone else as it might influence other voters. If you want to discuss candidates or voting choices, please do so outside the polling station.

What happens next?

At the end of the polling day, the polling station staff take the ballot box away to a central counting location where all the votes for the election will be counted.

Your vote will be kept safe and will always stay secret. 

Is a vote ever not counted?

If a voter can be identified by what is written on their ballot paper, the vote will not be counted as this breaches the secrecy of the ballot.

Additionally, if a voter has deliberately spoilt their ballot paper or their voting intention is unclear, the ballot may be voided. It’s important to mark your ballot paper correctly according to the instructions on the ballot paper and in the polling station booth.

What happens when the votes are counted?

You can find out in the last section of our guide – what happens at an election count.