Ways to vote

Voting at a polling station

If you are voting in person at a polling station, you have to vote at the one allocated to your polling district. This will be shown on the poll card we send you a few weeks before the election, and it may have changed since the last time you voted. 

Make sure you have an accepted form of photo ID or your Voter Authority Certificate with you before you go to your allocated polling station.

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on election day.

What happens at the polling station

• When you arrive, give your name and address to a member of staff inside the polling station. They will check that you are on the electoral register. If you are registered to vote anonymously, you will be asked to show your poll card and Anonymous Elector’s Document (AED).
• You will also be asked to show your photo ID. A private area will be available should you choose to have your photo ID viewed in private. This might be a separate room, or an area separated by a privacy screen, depending on the polling station.
• A staff member will cross your name off the register and give you a ballot paper listing the candidates you can vote for. You might be given more than one ballot paper if there is more than one election taking place in your local area on the same day.
• The ballot paper will tell you how many votes you have or you can check with a member of staff.
• Take your ballot paper (or papers) to a polling booth, so that you can cast your vote in secret.
• Follow the instructions on the notices in the polling booth and on the top of the ballot paper to vote. Some elections use different voting methods, so you need to make sure you fill in each ballot paper correctly.
• Complete your ballot paper using the pencil provided in the polling booth. You can also use your own pen if you want to. Don't write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted.
• Once you're done, fold your completed ballot paper and put it in the ballot box.

Voting if you have a disability

We offer a range of support for disabled and clinically vulnerable voters to enable them to vote independently or with assistance. Find out more

Voting by post

When you apply for a postal vote, you will need to supply your National Insurance Number, as well as your name, address and date of birth in order that we can verify your identity. You will also need to be able to upload a photo / image of your handwritten signature.

If your postal vote was approved before 31 October 2023, you will need to reapply before 31 January 2026 and you will be contacted before the deadline if you have not reapplied.

Returning your Postal Vote

The easiest way to return your postal vote is by post via Royal Mail. If you hand your postal vote in at the Council offices, this must be done during normal office hours, and you will be asked to complete a form. If a form is not completed, your postal vote will be rejected. You will also be asked to complete a form if you hand your postal vote in at a polling station on the day of the election. Voters will not be allowed to hand in more than five postal ballot packs (in addition to their own).

For more information, please visit: Changes to postal voting

Cancelling your postal vote

We will need a signed letter from you stating that you wish to cancel your postal. This can be emailed to [email protected] or sent to Elections, Eastleigh House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh SO50 9YN. 

Amending a postal vote

If you have changed your name or moved house, you will need to make a new application for a postal vote. Please make sure that you have also registered in your new name or at your new address.

Please note that applications, amendments or cancellations will have a deadline for each election.

Appointing a proxy

Voting by proxy means that you can appoint someone else to vote on your behalf.  However, if you find that you are able to vote on election day, you can still go to the polling station and vote, but the person you have appointed as your proxy will not then be able to vote on your behalf. The deadline for applications to vote by proxy is by 5pm, six working days before election day.   

Your proxy can either vote at the polling station where you would have had to vote yourself or they can apply for a postal proxy vote. Applications for a postal proxy vote must be received eleven working days before an election. 

You may need to appoint a proxy because:

• you are unable to go to the polling station eg if you are away on holiday
• you have a physical condition that means you cannot go to the polling station
• your job means you cannot go to the polling station
• your attendance on an education course means you cannot go to the polling station 
• you are a British citizen living overseas (Parliamentary and European Parliamentary only)
• you are a crown servant or a member of the armed forces

Emergency proxy

If circumstances change and you need to vote by proxy and it is within six working days of an election, you will need to complete an emergency application form. Please note that there are different forms depending on the reason for the proxy request. If you have any queries regarding the above, or would like more advice, please contact us on 023 8068 8000 or email [email protected]

Your application will be acknowledged and you will receive confirmation that your request to vote by proxy has been registered.