Elections - Voting

You can only vote in elections if your name is on the Register of Electors

• The following people are allowed to vote:
• If you are eighteen years or over.
• All British, Commonwealth, Irish and other European Union citizens.
• Overseas electors.
• Members of HM Forces and their spouses.
• Crown servants employed outside the United Kingdom.
• European citizens are allowed to vote in European and Local Elections only.
• Overseas Electors are allowed to vote in Parliamentary and European Elections only

Poll cards are delivered shortly before an Election. Each member of the household who is eligible to vote should receive a poll card which informs them of the date of the election, where their polling station is and the hours of poll. There will also be a map on the poll card showing you where the polling station is located. You do not need to take the poll card with you to be able to vote. Voters who vote by post are not sent a poll card as they are not required to attend the polling station.

For all elections polling hours are now 7am to 10pm.

On arrival at your designated polling station, the Presiding Officer will ask you to confirm your name and address and will issue you with a ballot paper.

The ballot paper will be marked with an official stamp. You should take the ballot paper to the voting booth and mark with a "X" the candidate you wish to vote for, fold the ballot paper and deposit it in the ballot box.

What if I am unable to get to the Polling Station on Election Day?

Please contact the Electoral Registration Officer who will advise which form you need to complete.

Electoral Services
Hackney Town Hall
Mare Street
London E8 1EA
Tel: 020 8356 3233/3234/3313
Fax: 020 8356 3266
Email: askPercy@hackney.gov.uk

Postal Vote

You are welcome to apply for a postal vote if you are unable to go to your Polling Station on election day. You do not need to have a reason to vote by post. If you decide that you do not want to go to the polling station at the time of an election your ballot paper can be sent to you at home or to an address of your choice. You can either complete a form or put your request in writing to us.

Ballot papers can also be sent out of the country, however, they will only be sent out one or two weeks before an election, therefore, in order to ensure your vote is counted you may prefer to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf. Please follow the link for more information about proxy voting - Link to Proxy Vote.

The deadline for receipt of postal vote applications is 11 working days before the day of an election.

Overseas electors

If you are an overseas elector you can now choose to have your ballot paper sent to you overseas. However, it will only be sent out one or two weeks before an election, therefore, in order to ensure your vote is counted you are strongly advised to continue using a proxy to vote on your behalf.

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Page updated: 21 Feb 2008