How to vote

• Easy read guide: How to vote
• Voter ID: Everything you need to know about photo ID
• List of polling stations

There are three different ways you can vote. How you vote is up to you. It may depend on what you find easiest or the most convenient method. Most people vote in person at a polling station. However, if you are not able to go to the polling station in person on election day, you can apply to vote by post or by proxy (someone voting on your behalf). Find out about voting in person, by post, or by proxy

Voting in person

Most people choose to cast their vote in person at a local polling station. Voting at a polling station is very straightforward and there is always a member of staff available to help if you're not sure what to do.

If you are on the electoral register, you will receive a poll card before the election telling you where and when to vote. The polling station is often a school or local hall near where you live. The poll card is for your information only, and you do not need to take it to the polling station in order to vote. 

Remember to take a correct form of photo ID with you when you go to the polling station. 

This could be your driving licence or your passport, or you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a voter authority certificate. Learn more about accepted forms of photo ID.

Voting if you have a disability 

We offer a range of support to disabled voters, including voters with a learning disability. Most of our polling stations:

• are wheelchair accessible and we provide ramps where needed
• have a polling booth adapted for wheelchair users
• have large print versions of ballot papers, along with aids to enable blind voters to mark their ballot papers without help

If you are a disabled voter and need support to complete a ballot paper, you can take either a:

• carer
• friend
• relative

They do not have to be eligible to vote and will not need to bring their photo ID. However, they will need to be over 18 years old.

The leading officer at the polling station can also help you fill in your ballot paper.

If you don't want to go to the polling station to vote, you can:

• vote by post
• vote by proxy (asking someone to vote on your behalf)

Guides for voters with a learning disability

You can view easy read guides about:

• what your vote does
• your rights
• registering to vote
• how to register to vote
• voter ID and how to apply for the voter ID certificate
• how to vote in person
• how to register for postal voting
• how to register for proxy voting

Guides for voters who are partially sighted, blind or deaf

You can download the following guide from the Electoral Commission about voting if you are blind or partially sighted.

You can also view British Sign Language (BSL) videos about:

• how to register to vote
• which forms of ID you can use to vote
• applying for a Voter Authority Certificate
• what will happen at the polling station

Voting by post

Voting by post is an easy and convenient way of voting if you are unable to get to the polling station. To vote by post, you need to be on the electoral register. 

• Apply to vote by post

Voting by proxy

Voting by proxy is a convenient way of voting if you are unable to get to the polling station. A proxy just means that you appoint someone you trust to vote on your behalf.

Voting by proxy can be useful if you fall ill and are unable to get to the polling station on election day, or if you are abroad during an election. It can be particularly useful if you are overseas in a country too far away to send back a postal vote in time for the election (for instance, if you are in the Armed Forces and deployed overseas).

• Apply to vote by proxy

Last updated: 29 April 2026