Voters are being reminded to make sure they are ready to take part in the elections on Thursday 5 May.
The Electoral Commission is giving the following advice to voters:
• 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.
• Check your poll card to find the location of your polling station. 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.
• If you have got a postal vote but have not had a chance to return it by polling day, you can hand it in at your polling station.
• You can ask staff at the polling station if you need advice on the voting process and how to mark your ballot paper.
• Remember! Pictures taken outside the polling station are great to use on social media and encourage your friends and family to vote, but don’t take any photos inside the polling station as you might find yourself in breach of secrecy of the ballot requirements.
The elections
On Thursday 5 May voters across the UK will go to the polls. There are elections to the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly, as well as local government elections in England and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England (except Greater Manchester) and Wales, and the Mayor of London and London Assembly elections.
Anyone who is registered to vote in these elections will also be registered to vote at the EU Referendum on 23 June. Only those who move home before the referendum will need to make a new application to register.
Andrew Scallan CBE, Director of Electoral Administration at the Electoral Commission, said:
“This year’s elections are an opportunity for voters to have their say, and we don’t want anyone to miss out because they didn’t know what to expect on polling day.
“The staff inside the polling station will be on hand to help with any queries you have, and there is information on how to cast your vote on our website atwww.aboutmyvote.co.uk”.
Voters with a disability are also being reminded by the Electoral Commission that there should be no barriers to them casting their vote on 5 May. The Electoral Commission has produced a factsheet for disabled voters in partnership with Mencap that includes information on the support available at polling stations.
Voters can find out what elections are taking place in their area and get more information about casting their vote at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or by calling 0800 3 280 280.