Selfies, canines and ingesting: What cannot you do in a polling station?

Voters in some components of England will select new councillors and mayors on Thursday 2 Might.

Throughout England and Wales, 37 police and crime commissioners can even be elected.

A by-election will choose the brand new MP for Blackpool South, after the resignation of former Conservative MP Scott Benton.

What can and may’t you do when voting in particular person?

If you’re registered to vote, you can be despatched a polling card along with your polling quantity and polling station particulars.

You possibly can solely vote at your native polling station, which is likely to be in a neighborhood college or church constructing. Yow will discover particulars of your native polling station on-line.

Polling stations are open between 07:00 and 22:00 BST on election day for individuals to vote in particular person.

If there is a queue, you may nonetheless vote so long as you joined it earlier than 22:00.

You don’t want to point out your polling card to vote, however you do have to supply legitimate picture ID in an effort to vote at polling stations in most UK elections.

The 22 types of acceptable ID embrace:

ID which has expired is suitable so long as you continue to seem like the image.

Anybody registered to vote who doesn’t have the suitable picture ID – or who’s not recognisable – can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificates.

The deadline to use for a certificates to make use of within the Might elections has handed.

Writing implements are offered however you may deliver your personal if you want.

The deadlines to to request a postal or proxy vote have handed.

Nevertheless, you may nonetheless request an emergency proxy vote if last-minute work commitments or a medical difficulty imply you may not vote in particular person.

You are able to do this as much as 17:00 BST on polling day, Thursday 2 Might.

In the event you use a postal vote it have to be along with your native council by 22:00 on polling day.

You possibly can return your poll papers by put up upfront or hand them right into a polling station or your native council on the day.

You aren’t allowed to take images inside a polling station as a result of the Electoral Fee – which oversees UK elections – says it dangers the secrecy of the poll.

The punishment for revealing how another person voted – even by accident – is a advantageous of as much as £5,000, or six months in jail.

However individuals are welcome to take images outdoors.

Sure, however voters are suggested to not replace their social media accounts contained in the polling station.

The foundations for postal poll papers are completely different, so voters can share images of their very own postal poll paper on social media if they need.

Some individuals intentionally spoil their vote – for instance, by writing a message on the poll paper as a protest.

These are recorded, however don’t depend for or in opposition to any candidate.

In the event you signal your poll and your title is identifiable, the vote doesn’t depend.

Animals, aside from help canines, are not usually allowed in polling stations.

Nevertheless, different canines might be admitted on the discretion of the native authority.

The Electoral Fee says there may be nothing in regulation to forestall somebody carrying a political slogan going right into a polling station in an effort to vote.

Nevertheless, they need to depart instantly afterwards, as campaigning inside polling stations shouldn’t be allowed.

Political dialogue is banned inside polling stations.

Employees will intervene in the event that they hear any references to candidates or events.

Bringing youngsters to the polling station is inspired to assist educate them about democracy.

However youngsters will not be allowed to mark your vote on the poll paper.

Individuals who have been ingesting or are drunk can vote, except they’re disruptive.

Polling station workers might help you, or you may deliver somebody with you.

In England, anybody over the age of 18 might help you forged your vote. They don’t have to be eligible to vote in that election.

Polling stations ought to have large-print pattern poll papers, and tactile voting units to assist individuals with visible impairments.

You possibly can take your cellphone into the polling sales space to make use of magnifier or text-to-speech apps, or the cellphone torch to enhance lighting. However you will need to not take any images contained in the polling station.

Voting in UK elections shouldn’t be obligatory. It’s solely as much as you whether or not or to not vote.

Typically “tellers” stand outdoors the polling station and ask voters for the quantity on their polling card.

They’re volunteers who work for candidates. They use the data to test who has voted, to allow them to remind individuals who haven’t but achieved so.

Tellers are allowed to ask in your polling card quantity however you would not have to offer it to them.