Am I eligible to vote?
Your name must be included in the Register of Electors to be able to vote in UK elections, although you may not be eligible to vote in all elections.
British citizens aged 18 years or over are eligible to vote in all elections.
Citizens of the Irish Republic and Commonwealth countries, who reside in the UK and are 18 years or over, are eligible to vote in all elections.
Citizens of the European Union who reside in the UK and are 18 years or over are only eligible to vote in European Parliamentary elections and local elections. They cannot vote in UK Parliamentary elections.
Rising 18 year olds are included in the register but they may not vote in elections until they have reached 18 years of age.
When can I use my vote?
District and Parish Elections
The South Hams is divided into 89 parish wards or polling districts. These parish wards combine to make up 5 Town Councils, 54 Parish Councils and 2 Parish Meetings.
South Hams District Council is divided into 30 district wards, returning 40 elected councillors.
District and Parish elections are held every four years and the last elections took place in May 2007.
County Elections
The South Hams is divided into 8 electoral divisions, each represented by 1 County Councillor. These councillors are elected to Devon County Council which is based at County Hall, Exeter.
County Council elections are held every four years. The last elections took place in May 2005.
Parliamentary Elections
The South Hams District Council boundary covers part of two Parliamentary Constituencies – Totnes and South West Devon.
Electors from the north, east and south of the South Hams join with parts of Torbay and Teignbridge to form the Totnes Constituency.
Electors from the western area of the South Hams join with parts of Plymouth and West Devon to form the South West Devon Constituency.
Each constituency is represented by a Member of Parliament (MP) who is elected to the House of Commons.
Parliamentary elections must take place within 5 years of the last election, but they can take place at any time within that 5 year period.
The last Parliamentary election took place in May 2005.
European Parliamentary Elections
The South Hams is part of the South West Region which is represented by 7 elected Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
European Parliamentary Elections take place every five years and the last European election took place in June 2004.
How do I vote?
If your name is on the Register, you should receive a poll card shortly before the date of the election (but not if you have registered for a postal vote). The poll card tells you when and where to vote.
If for some reason you don’t receive a poll card, telephone the Electoral Services Office on 01803 861234 and you will be told the date of the election and where your polling station will be situated.
This card is for your information only so don’t worry if you lose or forget it – you can still vote without it. Providing you are registered, all you need to do is tell the poll clerk at your polling station your name and address and you will be given a ballot paper.
At the polling station the presiding officer will give you a ballot paper.
At a UK election go to one of the polling booths and mark X in the box on the right hand side of the ballot paper alongside the name of the candidate(s) you want to vote for. At European elections you must vote for a party or individual candidate by placing a X in the box on the right hand side of the ballot paper alongside the name of the party(s) / candidate(s) you want to vote for. The ballot paper tells you how many candidates you can vote for; you cannot vote for more than that number. Do not put any other mark on the ballot paper or your vote may not be counted. If by mistake you spoil a ballot paper, show it to the presiding officer and ask for another one.
Once you have marked the ballot paper fold it in two and take it to the ballot box. Show the back of the ballot paper to the presiding officer, but do not let anyone see your vote. Put the ballot paper in the ballot box and leave the polling station.
If you have appointed a proxy to vote in person for you, you may nevertheless vote at an election if you do so before your proxy has voted on your behalf.
If you have been granted a postal vote, you will not be entitled to vote in person, even if you do not use your postal vote. You can deliver your completed postal ballot paper to the polling station if you wish to, but you must hand the sealed envelope to the presiding officer as it must not be placed in the ballot box.
When all of the polling stations have closed, the ballot boxes are taken to the count location. The ballot papers are verified and counted and the result is announced by the Returning Officer.
Is there any assistance with voting?
Every polling station in the district has the following available:-
- a device to enable blind or partially sighted voters to vote unaided
- at least one polling booth which is suitable for wheelchair users
- at least one large-print version of the ballot paper displayed inside each station to assist partially-sighted voters
- the provision for blind voters, voters with physical disabilities who are unable to vote without assistance and voters who are unable to read, to be assisted by a companion. The declaration may be made orally, or in writing
- assistance by the Presiding Officer
Is the ballot really secret?
Occasionally voters question the fact that there is a number printed on the back of each ballot paper and also on the corresponding number list on which the electoral number of the voter is recorded. In theory votes could be traced in this way but, in reality, there are procedures in place to make sure that this doesn’t happen and that the ballot is secret. Every procedure during an election is prescribed by law.
At the close of poll, the corresponding number lists of the issued ballot papers are sealed in packets. This happens before the staff leave the polling station. These packets can only be opened upon an Order from the High Court or the House of Lords.
At the count in UK elections, the ballot papers are kept face upwards so that no-one can see the number on the back of the ballot paper. At the end of the count, the ballot papers are sealed in packets under the scrutiny of both independent agents representing the candidates and the Returning Officer and his/her staff, ensuring that no one can attempt to interfere with them in any way.
Once sealed in their separate packets, these documents are kept securely in the custody of the Returning Officer (or by the Clerk of the Crown for Parliamentary elections) for a period of twelve months. This allows time for any Court Order to be made if a petition was brought calling the result of the election into question. Even then, it would not necessarily mean that all of the packets would be opened. Once the twelve month period has expired all the packets are destroyed.
