The general election is being held today across the UK. You have until 10pm to vote. You do not need your polling card.

Good luck to everyone taking part in democracy today. It’s often under-appreciated, days like today are ones that – for all the many disagreements between parties and candidates – we should be proud of the tens of thousands of volunteers who will be putting in long hours from before the crack of dawn until well after dusk in the name of democracy.

A little extra good wishes to fellow Liberal Democrats of course.

Voting in person

Polling stations are open between 7am and 10pm today .

. You don’t need your polling card to vote – something many people don’t realise

– something many people don’t realise You have to vote at your local polling station , which is indicated on the polling card. If you’ve lost your card and aren’t sure where to vote, you can look it up here or contact your local council.

, which is indicated on the polling card. If you’ve lost your card and aren’t sure where to vote, you can look it up here or contact your local council. Don’t take a selfie in the polling station.

Voting by post

If you have a postal ballot and not yet returned it, it is not too late to vote. However, you can’t just turn up to your polling station. So here is what to do…

Make sure all the paperwork is completed and put inside the (outer) sealed envelope.

and put inside the (outer) sealed envelope. Don’t confuse your date of birth with today’s date when filling in the paperwork – this is one of the most common reasons for postal votes to be rejected.

when filling in the paperwork – this is one of the most common reasons for postal votes to be rejected. Postal ballots can be handed in at polling stations up to 10pm today. Your local council may also be willing to collect the paperwork – local practice varies. Don’t assume posting will work. Sometimes the Royal Mail collects and delivers postal ballots posted on polling day in time but there’s a big risk your postal ballot will be too late and so won’t count.

Other tips

If a last minute medical emergency prevents you going to vote, you have until 5pm today to apply for an emergency proxy so that someone else can vote on your behalf. Contact your local council ASAP to arrange this.

so that someone else can vote on your behalf. Contact your local council ASAP to arrange this. There is a tactile device in each polling station to help blind and partially sighted voters.

And finally…