The first step to voting is making sure your name is on the electoral register, you can’t vote without this. To find out more about electoral registration, follow the link on this page. The deadline to register to vote is 5pm, 11days before polling day.

There are three different ways you can vote:

• In person
• By post
• By proxy

Your polling card

However you decide to vote, once you’re on the electoral register you will be sent a polling card before an election. The card will explain the arrangements that have been made for you to vote. If you are voting in person it will tell you where you polling station is and when you can vote. If you are voting by post it will tell you what you need to do.

Voting in person

On election day go to the polling station named on your polling card. This is where you cast your vote. It is often a school or local community hall near where you live. Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm.

You don’t need to take your polling card with you to vote, but it will help the polling staff check for your details.

Polling staff will give you a ballot paper, head to a booth and put a cross in the box, to the right, for the person(s) or party(s) you wish to vote for. Vote for no more than the number of candidates indicated at the top of the ballot form. Don’t write anything else on the paper or your vote won’t count. Then post your vote in the ballot box.

Voting by post

If you know you are going to be away or unable to vote in person on election day you can vote by post. You can also choose to vote by post just because it would be more convenient for you.

Here are some things to keep in mind if you decide to vote by post:

• You can apply to vote by post for a single election, a specific election, a specified period, or indefinitely
• A postal vote can be sent to your home address or any other address specified by you.
• Postal votes are usually dispatched about a week before polling day
• Postal votes can be sent overseas but you need to consider if there would be enough time for you to receive and return your ballot paper by polling day
• If you have been sent a postal vote, you cannot vote in person at a polling station
• Postal votes can be posted back to your local council or returned by hand to the local council or your local polling station
• Postal votes have to be received by your local council or polling station before polling stations close at 10pm on the day of the election. The deadline for applying to vote by post is 5pm, 11 working days before the elections.

Voting by proxy

Voting by proxy is when you get someone to vote on your behalf if you are unable to make it to the polling station yourself.

Things to remember:

• If your circumstances change and you wish to vote in person, you can do so as long as your proxy hasn’t already voted on your behalf
• If your proxy can’t get to the polling station they can apply to vote by post
• The deadline for applying to vote by proxy is 5pm, six working days before the election.

If you wish to vote by post or by proxy you must let us know before election day. To find out more and to download a voter application form, follow the link below.

Date Updated: 26/03/08