General Election 2024: How to vote, when to vote, when results will come – and whether or not you can take a selfie
After many weeks of politicians hitting the streets, leaflets through the door and television debates, Thursday marks the day voters finally go to the polls to cast their vote.
Compared to some of the most recent elections you might have voted in since 2019, Westminster polls offer some differences both in terms of the voting system and how you physically cast your vote.
With that in mind we have put together your go-to guide for any questions you might have as you step into the polling station to take part.
From whether you can grab a selfie as you vote, to the expected weather on the day, we will hopefully answer most of your last remaining questions before you head off to vote on Thursday.
What time can I vote on Thursday?
Polling stations open on Thursday 4 July at 7am and close at 10pm. You can vote as long as you are in the queue by 22:00.
Where do I vote?
To cast your vote you will need to visit your local polling station. The vast majority of people have been allocated to the same polling station that they were in for the 2023 Local Elections. Some people will have to change from the 2023 Local Election polling station to accommodate UK Parliament constituency boundaries and some have had to change to accommodate the 2023 Boundary Commission review.
All registered electors who are eligible to vote in the General Election should have received a polling card which includes the address of the polling station at which they may vote.
You cannot vote elsewhere.
The address for your local polling station is on your polling card.
Alternatively the Electoral Commission have a handy tool online which provides you your local polling station, the candidates standing in the constituency and who to contact if you need any help.
What will the ballot paper look like?
Although the election news cycle is often dominated by party leaders, who have appeared in televised debates and regularly make headlines, those probably are not the names you will see in front of you.
Your ballot paper will offer a list of candidates representing political parties, or standing as independents, in your constituency.
How do I actually cast my vote in this election?
If you have previously voted in local Northern Irish elections you may be more used to numbering your preferred candidates. That is not the case in a Westminster election.
Put simply, in this election each person has one vote under a system called "first past the post", the candidate with the most votes becomes the MP for that area.
On the ballot paper, mark a cross (X) against the candidate you wish to vote for. Do not write anything else on the ballot paper or your vote may not be counted.
What ID will I need to bring?
Everyone voting in person at the general election on 4 July will have to show valid photo ID.
According to the Electoral Office in Northern Ireland, the following are acceptable forms of identification:
A UK, Irish or EEA driving licence (photo part) (provisional accepted)
A UK or Irish Passport (or Irish Passport Card)
An Electoral Identity Card
A Translink Senior SmartPass
A Translink 60+ SmartPass
A Translink Half Fare SmartPass
A Translink Registered Blind SmartPass
A Translink War Disablement SmartPass
A Biometric Immigration Document
The identification document does not need to be current, as long as the photograph is of a good enough likeness to allow polling station staff to confirm the identity of the holder.
Do I need to bring my polling card?
A polling card, which tells you when you can vote and at which polling station, is not required to cast your vote.
Simply tell the staff there your name and address when you arrive.
What do I actually do at the polling station when I arrive?
You may have to queue outside before you get into the polling station as they can get very busy, especially towards the end of the day.
Once you are inside the polling station, the staff will check you are on the electoral register, ask for your photo ID and hand you a ballot paper.
You should take this to a voting booth, read the instructions on it and mark the ballot paper with your vote.
You can then place it in the ballot box and leave the venue.
Can I take a selfie while I am voting?
There is absolutely nothing stopping you from taking a selfie outside the polling station either before or after you have voted.
However, according to the Electoral Office, you must not take pictures inside the polling station. If you inadvertently disclose how someone has voted you would be breaking the law.
Revealing how somebody else voted, even by accident, could land you with a £5,000 fine or up to six months in prison.
Can I bring my dog into the polling station to vote?
Usually, animals are not allowed inside polling stations, apart from assistance dogs.
Though the station’s presiding officer may theoretically give permission for pets to be taken inside, this is unlikely to be the case.
If you choose to bring a furry friend, they should be safely secured outside the venue.
The UK General Election will be held on Thursday, the 4th of July.
The UK General Election will be held on Thursday, the 4th of July.
What help is there if I have a disability?
All polling stations should have accessibility measures in place to ensure disabled people can exercise their right to vote.
The following facilities are available at polling stations to assist voters with disabilities:
a polling booth with a shelf at a height suitable for people in wheelchairs
a polling booth with extra lighting
a large print version of the ballot paper
a device with Braille (known as a selector device) to help voters mark their ballot paper
a telephone service to read out the ballot paper
If you want to use any of these items, please tell the staff at the polling station when they give you your ballot paper.
If you cannot mark the ballot paper yourself due to a disability, you can have it marked for you by a companion or by the person in charge of the polling station (the Presiding Officer).
You will need to tell the polling station staff that this is how you want to vote and why. If your companion is voting for you they will be asked to fill in a form. Your ballot paper will be marked and placed in the ballot box on your behalf.
Can I use my own pen or pencil?
Voters are allowed to bring their own pen/pencil to fill in their ballot paper.
Though there is no legal requirement to use them, pencils are provided inside polling stations because they are less likely to leak or run than pens which use ink.
What is the weather expected to be on the day?
As we know too well here, the weather is often notoriously changeable and so your experience when you head to the polls may differ.
That said at the moment the Met Office is forecasting Thursday across Northern Ireland to be a bright and breezy day with a mix of sunny spells and showers.
According to forecasters the showers may be occasionally heavy through the morning but are expected to ease in the afternoon.
if you avoid a shower it should still be pretty pleasant to get out and vote, with a maximum temperature expected of 17 C.
When will I know the results for my constituency?
The first indication of how the election has gone on a national level is likely to be the exit polls, which are published shortly after 10pm.
After that, official constituency outcomes across the UK are likely to be announced from 11.30pm as early results trickle in.
As for your individual constituency, results across Northern Ireland are expected throughout the early hours of Friday morning.
Currently, the estimated declaration times for Northern Ireland constituencies are as follows:
2am – North Down, Strangford, Tyrone West
3am – Antrim East, Belfast East, Belfast North, Belfast West, Londonderry East, Mid Ulster
3.30am – Antrim South, Belfast South & Mid Down, South Down
4am – Upper Bann, Foyle, Fermanagh & South Tyrone
4.30am – Antrim North, Lagan Valley, Newry & Armagh
How can I follow along with the counting drama?
The Belfast Telegraph will have live round-the-clock coverage from each of the count centres throughout Friday morning as the election twists and turns take place.
The best way to follow along will be with our online digital coverage on our website. We will have plenty of video content as well to keep you up to date with what is happening directly from the count centres.
by Dodecaheadwrong
3 comments
Very important to vote this week. Even if you think they’re all plonkers, get out and spoil your vote. Change doesn’t happen unless there is palpable appetite for it.
no photographs should be allowed near it full stop
Didn’t realise they were counting straight after. Thought it would be a Friday morning start.