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Your guide to voting

18/ 4/2008

EVERYTHING you need to know about voting in the local elections ...

You can only vote in elections if your name is on the Register of Electors.

The following people are allowed to vote:

• If you are eighteen years or over
• All British, Commonwealth, Irish and other European Union citizens. (European citizens are allowed to vote in European and Local Elections only) 
• Overseas electors. (Overseas Electors are allowed to vote in Parliamentary and European Elections only.) 
• Members of HM Forces and their spouses
• Crown servants employed outside the United Kingdom

Poll cards are delivered shortly before an Election. Each member of the household who is eligible to vote should receive a poll card which informs them of their chosen method of voting.  Electors who have opted to vote by post or proxy will receive a card with the appropriate absent voting arrangements. 

All other electors will receive a card giving details of the date of the election, location of their polling station, the hours of poll and contact details to arrange for an absent vote if required.   You do not need to take the poll card to the polling station with you to be able to vote.

For all Elections the hours of poll are 7am -10pm

On arrival at your designated polling station, the Presiding Officer will ask you to confirm your name and address and will issue you with a ballot paper

The ballot paper will be marked with an official stamp

You should take the ballot paper to the voting booth and mark a "X" against the candidate you wish to vote for

Fold the ballot paper and deposit it in the ballot box

What if I am unable to get to the Polling Station on Election Day?

If you are unable to go to your Polling Station on Election Day, you can apply to vote by post or proxy. Please contact the Electoral Services Section who will advise which form you need to complete.

Applying for a postal vote

To apply for a postal vote you can pick up an application form at any of our Customer Service Centres or use the Electoral Services contact details in the right hand column to request a form.

You do not need a reason to have a postal vote.  You can choose to have your ballot paper sent to your home address or a different address of your choice.  If it is being sent elsewhere, you must give a reason for this on your application form.  You must also state how long you wish to vote by post.  Following the introduction of new legislation, you must now provide a specimen of your signature and your date of birth.  This is to help make postal voting more secure. 

Requests for postal votes to be sent abroad

Postal ballot packs can be sent out of the country.  However, due to the election timetable, they will only be sent approximately one week before polling day.  You need to decide whether this is enough time for you to receive it, complete it and send it back to us in time for it to be counted.

Can I still choose to vote at my polling station if I have a postal vote?

No.  When you have applied for a postal vote you cannot vote in person at the polling station.

Completing your postal ballot pack

When you receive your pack you should:

• Mark your vote on the ballot paper
• Complete the declaration form as appropriate, remembering to sign it within the grey box and complete your date of birth
• Seal your completed ballot paper in envelope 'A'
• Place envelope 'A' and your completed declaration in envelope 'B' and return it
• Make sure that your vote arrives back with us before 10pm on election day.  Any votes received after this time will be too late to be counted

Full instructions will be supplied in the postal voting pack.

What if I do not receive my pack or it is lost or spoilt?

You can apply for a replacement pack by calling in person to the Electoral Services Section, Town Hall, Rochdale.  You will need to bring photographic proof of your identity before a replacement can be issued, for example passport, photo driving licence, bus permit, student card.

How is my postal vote counted?

Your ballot paper will be mixed with all the others for your ward before counting begins, ensuring that your vote remains secret.

Proxy Voting

What is proxy voting?

A proxy is someone you appoint to vote on your behalf at the polling station if you cannot attend yourself.  You can collect an application form at any of our Customer Service Centres or use the contact details, in the right hand column, to request a form.

When applying for a proxy vote, you must provide a reason why you want one e.g. you are away on holiday or you are in hospital.  If you want a proxy vote for longer than just the next election, you must have one of the following reasons:

• You are an overseas or service voter
• You have a physical disability
• You are registered blind
• You are away from home due to your job or are on a course
• You have to travel by air or sea to get to your polling station

In all cases (except if you are registered blind), someone has to certify that your application is valid, for example your employer or doctor.

What happens once I have applied?

Your proxy will be sent a poll card before the election telling them which station they have to go to

Your proxy must go to this polling station to vote for you.  If they cannot get to your station, they can apply to vote for you by post.  They should contact the Electoral Services Section for more details.

You must let your proxy know how you want them to vote for you, for example which party or candidate

If you find that you are available to go to your polling station on election day, you can still go and vote as long as your proxy has not already done so, or has not applied to vote by post.

For further information or assistance, please contact:

Electoral Services Unit
PO Box 207
Town Hall
Rochdale OL16 1EW
Tel: 01706 924758
Fax: 01706 924848
Email: elections@rochdale.gov.uk