What you need to know about voting in the general election on 4th July
The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming general election has passed, so we hope you've already got that done and dusted.
We're now just two weeks out from the election itself, which is due to be held on 4 July.
The results will decide who gets to govern Britain for next few years, at least in theory, and by the morning of 5 July we'll know which party is going to occupy Downing Street.
For many Brits, this is going to be their first election, or perhaps the first time they've gone to a polling station since those distant days of December 2019.
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As such we've got a handy guide for everything you need to know on the day itself.
Where do I go to vote?
The location of your polling station depends on where you're registered to vote.
You should be getting a polling card in the post, which will tell you where your polling station is so you're in no doubt as to where you're headed.
The place itself will also likely have signs outside to point you in the right direction
If you're heading to the polling station in person, then you should only go to the one that's listed on your poll card.
Even if you're registered at multiple addresses you can only go to vote once.
What do I need to bring with me?
There's a list of approved Photo IDs and if you don't have one then you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.
The deadline to get a Voter Authority Certificate before polling day is 5pm on 26 June, so be quick on that.
The ID you bring with you must be the original version and can't just be a picture of it.
The picture on your ID will need to look like you, and you can still use it to vote even if it's expired.
You don't need to bring your polling card with you and it won't count as ID, so other than telling you where to go it's not going to help much on the day.
How long is the polling station open?
Polling stations are open between 7am and 10pm, so there's plenty of time in the day for you to go out and cast your vote.
If there's a queue at your polling station and the 10pm deadline passes then you should still be able to vote if you've already joined the queue.
How do I actually vote?
Once you're there give your name and address to the people at the polling station and they'll tell you what to do.
You'll be given a ballot paper which has a list of the candidates you can vote for, and it should say which party they represent at the election as well.
Mark your vote by putting a cross in only one of the boxes on your ballot paper, then fold it and deposit it wherever it's supposed to go in your polling station.
The staff working there will be able to tell you what to do, and there will likely be signs up making it clear how to vote.
What am I not allowed to do?
You should be careful about taking pictures inside the polling station, as while you're absolutely fine to take as many pictures outside there are certain risks involved once you're in there.
It's not illegal to take a selfie of yourself voting, but you aren't allowed to take a picture of your ballot card.
It's illegal to reveal how someone else voted, and taking pictures inside might result in this happening.
You're not allowed to discuss politics inside or around the polling station, as this could be seen as an attempt to influence someone else's vote.
Can I bring someone with me?
You can be accompanied by others to a polling station, but when you go into the voting booth to make your mark, you must not have any other adult in there with you unless you're disabled and they're there to help you.
Anyone you like can come along to the polling station, if you're bringing your children then they're allowed inside the voting booth with you as long as they don't make marks on your ballot paper.
Animals are not normally allowed inside polling stations, with the exception of assistance dogs.
You're welcome to bring pets along and secure them outside, there's a reason why #dogsatpollingstations is a popular trend during elections.
Joe Harker