Where is my local polling station?

To find out where your polling station is, visit this website, enter your postcode, and it will tell you not only where your polling station is (positioned on a map), but how far it is and how long it will take to get there. Handy, huh?

Do I need my polling card to vote?

If you are like me and lose everything all the time – phone, keys, dignity on a night out – then you may have lost your polling card and be worried you won’t be able to vote without it. This is not the case. All you need to do when you arrive at the polling station is give your name and address, and if you are are on the electoral roll, you will be able to vote. If you bring your polling card, it just might be slightly quicker.

Do I need any other form of ID?

Nope. Not this time. Your mere presence is enough. That is unless you’re in Northern Ireland where you’ll need photo ID.

What happens when I am at the polling station?

Apart from the immediate giddy sensation of being in a primary school sports hall about to enact your democratic right to vote? You will go to a little table manned by polling staff. Give them your name and address (or your polling card, if you have brought it). They will cross your name off a list and stamp your ballot card, which they will then give to you. You will be directed towards one of the “booths” – in reality a little shielded table with miniature pencils.

There will be a notice telling you how to mark your ballot, and instructions on the ballot paper itself. Afterwards, put it in the ballot box. It is a most satisfying feeling. Almost as satisfying as when you are not looking forward to a social engagement and then it gets cancelled.

What will the ballot paper look like?

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ballot papers are sorted at a vote counting centre in Margate. Photograph: Niklas Halle'N/AFP/Getty Images

There will be a list of candidates standing in your constituency. Candidates will be ordered alphabetically. Each candidate will also have the name of the party they are standing for, or whether they are an independent candidate. To find out the constituency you are in, and who is standing here, see here.

The party leaders will not be on the ballot paper. Mark your ballot paper with an X – not a tick – next to the candidate you would like to vote for (although what really matters is that the voting intention is clear, so the ballot probably wouldn’t be rejected if you did a tick). You must vote for only one candidate.

Important: do not identify yourself in any way on the ballot paper or your vote will be voided. Voting is anonymous.

What if I make a mistake?

Don’t panic. It’s fine. As long as you have not put your ballot in the ballot box, you can fix this. Just explain to a member of staff what you have done and they will issue you with a new ballot.

Can I purposely spoil my ballot paper?

Sure, vote for the Tories if you like. HAHAHA, I’m kidding. No, but seriously, yes you can.

How do I spoil my ballot paper?

There has in the past been some confusion as to how one spoils a ballot, but basically if you write anything on the ballot aside from a clear voting intention in a box next to a candidate’s name, the ballot will be seen as spoilt.



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When are polling stations open?

In the UK, elections are held on Thursdays. Which is stupid. In France, elections are held on a weekend to make voting much easier for those in work. However, a day job is no excuse not to vote as polls are open from 7am in the morning until 10pm at night.

If I can’t get to a polling station, can someone else vote for me?

It is possible to gain an emergency vote by proxy. This means someone else can vote for you. You can apply for an emergency vote by proxy until 5pm on polling day, but only for two reasons: a medical emergency, or a last-minute work commitment. You must fill out emergency proxy vote forms. Contact your local council for further advice. (Find out which is your council here).

The general deadline for proxy votes has passed. You can find out how to register for proxy votes for future elections here. Anybody can be your proxy vote as long as they are registered and eligible to vote themselves, but again, you should give a reason.

I have disabilities – will the polling station make voting accessible?

It should do. But polling venues need to do much, much more. Research after the last general election found that a quarter of people with disabilities found it difficult to vote in person. One person using a wheelchair had to fill the ballot out on their lap after finding the station inaccessible. Another man even sued his London council because he could not enter the polling station and so could not vote. And all this despite the Electoral Commission stating that all polling stations should be accessible, and staff should provide support where needed. There were even reports of people with learning disabilities being turned away from polling stations in 2015.

Tactile voting apparatus should be available by law. Scope has listed all the help disabled voters are entitled to at stations, including low-level booths. To check the accessibility of your polling station, contact your local council.

Can I discuss my vote in the polling station?

This is a big no-no as it might influence or unnerve fellow voters. If you want to discuss candidates or voting choices, do so outside the polling station – and if you want to hand out leaflets or other election material.

Can I take my pet?

DAMN RIGHT YOU CAN. Well, you can take dogs. In fact, taking dogs to polling stations is so popular that the hashtag #DogsAtPollingStations has trended in recent national votes. It has become such a thing that this time Twitter has teamed up with Dogs Trust to give the hashtag its very own emoji. I’m not entirely sure on other pets. I did search for #CatsAtPollingStations, and found just this one.

Is there a dress code?

No, and it is OK to wear garments that might obscure your face: for instance, hoodies or the niqab. However, party political clothing is not recommended as it could be viewed as intimidating to voters.

Can I take a photograph of me losing my voting virginity?

I understand the temptation – if it’s not on Instagram, did it really happen? But it isn’t wise. Lots of polling stations have signs warning against photography. In actual fact, it isn’t illegal to take photographs in polling stations, but it is illegal to expose how another person voted. Generally, the Electoral Commission isn’t keen on cameras in polling stations. You might get told off if you whip out your camera phone, but as long as it doesn’t contravene the law against identifying another’s vote, it isn’t illegal.



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OK. How can I excitedly share that I voted and I am proud of it?

You should be. Everyone should vote. Social media now offers many ways to assert that you have voted. However, though it is not illegal to announce how you have voted, again, it is illegal to share how another individual voted (under section 66 of the Representation of the People Act).

Who are those people hanging around outside the polling stations?

They are called tellers. They are volunteers for political parties. You have no obligation to speak to tellers, but they may ask you for your candidate number. This is because the tellers are trying to gauge how many people have voted and how many people they still need to encourage to the polls. Tellers are more likely in marginal seats.

How are the votes counted?

A big bunch of empty ballot boxes are delivered to polling stations before voting starts. After voting has closed, counting begins. The counting is overseen by a returning officer and by the candidates and party officials. If a count is closed and a recount is requested, the returning officer will take the final decision on this. A tie often results in a recount, although the returning officer has the power to toss a coin to decide the result. (This has never happened in a UK general election, however.)

Can my vote be discounted?

If a voter’s intention is unclear, the ballot may be voided. So it’s important to mark it correctly – but again, there will be instructions both on the paper and in the booth.

When can I find out who has won in my constituency?

If you have caught the politics bug, you can follow all the events on the Guardian politics live blog, which will be happening throughout the night.

The results of exit polls should be made available as soon as stations close at 10pm. (The polling company Ipsos Mori will ask thousands of people outside 144 polling stations how they voted, in a bid to determine the result).

The earliest constituency to return its result for the fast five general elections has been Houghton & Sunderland South, which is expected to return at 11pm. Most constituencies will announce a result between 2am and 6am. Some won’t announce until later tomorrow morning, but there should be a clear picture of an overall winner by then.

Should I go and vote now I have finished reading this article?

Yes. Go right now.