General election FAQ

This page contains information on registration and voting in the 2010 UK general election. Some information does not apply in Northern Ireland - please read carefully.

Am I registered to vote?

The Electoral Commission can not tell you if you are registered to vote - you must contact your local electoral registration office. You can find the contact details for your local electoral registration office in the ‘Your local area’ panel – just enter your postcode.

Please note that the deadline to register to vote for the coming elections was Tuesday 20 April.

If you filled in the annual canvass registration form that came through your door between August and November you should be registered.  (There is no annual canvass in Northern Ireland).

Why is there a deadline to register?

You are able to register to vote through the rolling registration process at any time during the year as well as during the annual canvass which takes place in the autumn. There is a however a set timetable for every general and local election in the UK set in law. Under this timetable the deadline to register to vote for the elections is 11 working days before poll. This deadline cannot be amended for any reason.

I haven't received my poll card/I've received my poll card but my name is incorrect

You can still vote even if you do not have a poll card, as long as you are on the electoral register. You should contact your local electoral registration office to confirm whether you are on the electoral register and report the fact that you have not received your poll card.

If you have received your poll card and your name has changed or is spelled incorrectly, you should still be able to vote at the polling station. You do not need to take your polling card to the polling station but it might be easier for the polling station staff to help identify you. In Northern Ireland you need to take ID to vote: see our page on voting in Northern Ireland for more details (you will have to enter a Northern Ireland post code in 'Your local area' to see the NI-specific content).

How do I find my polling station?

If you are registered to vote, details for your polling station will be on the poll card that will be delivered to you. Contact your local elections office for more details. More information on voting at a polling station can be found on our voting in person FAQ page.

What provision is made for people with disabilities?

Tactile voting templates and large print versions of ballot papers are available at all polling stations. You can also take a companion with you to assist you or ask the presiding officer at the polling station for help. Contact your local elections office to find out the accessibility at your polling station. For more information on accessibility of the electoral process, see our accessibility FAQ page.

I have a medical emergency/am stranded overseas and I am unable to go to my polling station on 6 May

The deadline for applying for a postal or proxy vote has now passed.

You can apply to vote by proxy for medical emergencies only up until 5pm on polling day (except in Northern Ireland). Please note that you will need to have your application supported by a medical practitioner.

For more information on proxy voting, see our proxy voting FAQ page.

Why haven't I received my postal ballot paper?

You should receive your postal ballot about one week before the election. If it doesn't arrive, you can get a replacement ballot paper in person from your Returning Officer up until 5pm on election day (except in Northern Ireland). Requests for replacement ballot papes can be made 4 working days before election day in England & Wales and 3 working days in Scotland. Replacement postal ballots are not issued in Northern Ireland except in the case of spoiled ballots. Please contact your Electoral Registration Officer for details. For more information on postal voting, see our postal voting FAQ page.

Where can I get information on candidates?

There is no official source, so you should visit candidate websites, party websites, or write to the party or candidate. In Northern Ireland, a list of nominated candidates is available on the Electoral Office website. For more information on elections and candidates, see our elections taking place in your area FAQ page.

When are the results announced?

This will depend on the individual areas and returning officers. In most areas, votes are counted after the close of poll on Thursday evening, but in some areas votes are counted the next morning. If you would like to find out what happens in your area, contact your local elections office.  You can find more information about timing of counts on the election page of our main website.

I have received some information from a political party/candidate and wish to complain

Political advertising and campaign publicity material is subject to a number of restrictions under electoral law. For instance, all election material must carry an imprint with details of the full name and full address of the printer and promoter of the material. In addition, materials must not contain false statements about the personal character or conduct of a candidate.

Campaign material are also subject to general civil law on liability and criminal law and must not contain comments or statements that are defamatory. Defamatory comments in a written form constitute libel and are liable to legal action. Rules on copyright also apply to election material. In addition, under the Public Order Act 1986, it is an offence to publish and distribute threatening, abusive or insulting material intended to stir up racial hatred.

The Electoral Commission does not have any discretion to monitor individual campaign material or investigate any allegations of offences under electoral law. We would suggest that you direct your complaint to the specific party. Alternatively, if you believe that an offence has been committed with the materials received, you will need to bring it to the attention of the police.