Everything you need to know about how to vote in the General Election

With just a few days to go until the General Election, we have put together a summary of everything you need to know about how to vote on 12 December.

Can I still register to vote?

Unfortunately it is now too late to register to vote, the deadline to vote in person or by post was Tuesday 26 November, and 4 December for voting by proxy.

How do I find who my local candidates are?

To see who is standing in your local area, visit the Who can I vote for? website. Just enter your postcode, for the address at which you plan to vote, to find the candidates.

On the day, where do I go to vote?

Before the election you will receive a polling card through the post telling you where to vote. It will be at a local polling station, these are usually set up in places such as schools or churches. You can only vote at the polling station location on your card.

Don’t worry if you haven’t received your polling card, you can contact your local authority to find out where to vote. Find the contact details for your council here.

How do I vote?

When you arrive at the polling station, give your name and address to the staff members inside. They will give you a ballot paper to select your candidate on. Once you have made your choice, fold the ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box provided.

Do I need my polling card to vote?

The polling card is for your information only – you do not need to take it to the polling station and you can still vote if you have misplaced it.

Don’t worry if you lose your card. In England, Wales or Scotland, as long as you’re registered on the electoral roll, go into the polling station and give your name and address, you will be able to vote in the General Election. In Northern Ireland you will need to show photo ID when voting.

When are the polling stations open?

The polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 12 December.

What if I can’t get to a polling station on the day?

In certain circumstances, where you have an emergency that means you can’t vote in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy, up until 5pm on polling day.

You can find more information about voting in the General Election here.