Who is eligible to vote?
- You must be eighteen years or over (if you are 18 on the day of the election you can vote in that election)
- All British, Irish and other European Union citizens unless disqualified (ie, convicted prisoners)
- Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK
- Members of HM Forces and their spouses
- Crown servants employed outside the United Kingdom
In addition to this, your name must be on the electoral register being used for the election on 5th May 2011. The last day for registering is 14th April 2011.
How do I get my name onto the Electoral Register in time to vote at Elections on 5th May 2011?
You can download an electoral registration form from About My Vote. Provided you return the completd form to the election office by 14th April your name will appear on the register for the election.
We will write to tell you when your application is allowed. Any elector can object to your name being added to the register, but if this happens we will write to you.
The last day for registering for the elections on 5th May 2011 is 14th April 2011.
How can I find out whether I am on the Electoral Register?
You can check the Electoral Register at South Hams District Council Offices, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes. Alternatively, you can call the elections helpline on (01803) 861234.
I don’t seem to be on the register. What do I do?
All you have to do is complete an electoral registration form or call the elections helpline (01803) 861234. You can download an electoral registration form from About My Vote. The last day for registering for 5th May 2011 is 14th April 2011.
Can I change my registration now I have moved house so that I can vote in the polling station at my new address?
You will need to complete a registration form for your new address. You can download an electoral registration form from About My Vote. Your name will then appear on the register within 2 to 6 weeks of receiving your form - the register is usually updated at the beginning of each month from any new details received up to approx. the 10th day of the month before. Unless there is an election pending in which case you may register up to 11 working days before the day of election.
If you do not re-register it will be necessary for you to vote at the polling station at your previous address or complete a postal vote application form and return it to us no later than 11 working days before the day of election. Please call the elections helpline (01803) 861234 for an application as soon as possible or visit the About My Vote web site for a downloadable absent voting form, after selecting South Hams District Council as your Authority select "How To Vote" from the left hand menu.
What is the Electoral Register?
The electoral register is a list of the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote. There are two versions of the electoral register - the full register and the edited register. Your details will appear on the full register, but you can choose when you will fill in a registration form whether or not your details appear on the edited register.
The full register is used for elections, preventing and detecting crime and checking applications for credit. The edited register is available for general sale and can be used for commercial activities such as marketing.
The Register is a public document and is available for inspection at Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes.
What if I cannot get to the polling station on Election day?
If you are unable to get to a polling station on election day, you can apply for an Absent Vote.
There are two types:
Postal Vote - Where your ballot paper is sent to you at the address you request. Please contact us on (01803) 861234 or Email: elections@southhams.gov.uk for an application as soon as possible or visit the About My Vote web site for a downloadable absent voting form, after selecting South Hams District Council as your Authority select "How To Vote" from the left hand menu. Completed applications must be received by the Electoral Registration Officer no later than 5.00 pm 11 working days before the day of election.
Proxy Vote - Where you nominate someone to go to the polling station and vote on your behalf. Please call (01803) 861234 or Email: elections@southhams.gov.uk for an application as soon as possible or visit the About My Vote web site for a downloadable absent voting form, after selecting South Hams District Council as your Authority select "How To Vote" from the left hand menu. Completed applications must be received by the Electoral Registration Officer no later than 5.00 pm six working days before the election. (except for medical emergencies).
Can I vote at any polling station?
No, you can only vote at the polling station which has your name on their register. Details of your polling station will be on your poll card or contact us on Totnes (01803) 861234 and we will tell you the location of your polling station.
I don’t know where my polling station is. How can I find out?
On your poll card it will have the location of your polling station. If you can’t find the poll card, you can call the elections helpline on (01803) 861234.
Must I have a poll card to vote?
No, although it will help the polling station staff to quickly find your name on the register.
How do I vote at a polling station?
Most people in the UK choose to cast their vote in person at a local polling station. Voting at a polling station is very straightforward and there is always a member of staff available to help if you're not sure what to do.
If you are on the electoral register, you will receive a poll card before the election telling you where and when to vote. The polling station is often a school or local hall near where you live. The poll card is for your information only, and you do not need to take it to the polling station in order to vote.
The following five steps explain how to vote at your polling station on election day:
- On election day, go to your local polling station. Polling station opening hours are 7am - 10pm. Take your polling card with you – though you do not need it in order to vote, as long as you are registered to vote.
- Tell the staff inside the polling station your name and address so they can check that you are on the electoral register. You can show them your poll card, if you have it with you.
- The staff at the polling station will give you a ballot paper listing the parties and candidates you can vote for. You may be given more than one ballot paper if there is more than one election on the same day.
- If you have a visual impairment, you can ask for a special voting device that allows you to vote on your own in secret.
- Take your ballot paper into a polling booth so that no one can see how you vote. Read the ballot paper carefully, it will tell you how to cast your vote. Do not write anything else on the paper or your vote may not be counted.
Finally, when you have marked your vote, fold the ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box. Do not let anyone see your vote. If you are not clear on what to do, ask the staff at the polling station to help you.
I don’t know who my candidates are, how can I find out?
To find out the names of the candidates that you can choose to vote for at the elections you can go to the homepage of this website after the close of nominations or you can call the elections helpline on Totnes (01803) 861234.
If I make a mistake on the ballot paper in the polling station, can I have a new ballot paper?
If you spoil your ballot paper in the polling station you can ask the Presiding Officer to issue you with another one provided you have not placed the first ballot paper in the ballot box. You must hand the spoilt ballot paper intact to the Presiding Officer before you will be given another one. If you have already put your ballot paper into the ballot box you cannot be given another one.
Why do the staff in the polling station write down my electoral number before they give me a ballot paper?
The law requires every ballot paper to have a unique serial number. The law also requires that a record is kept of the serial number of the ballot paper that is issued to every elector. That is why the staff in the polling station record the serial number of the ballot paper against the electoral number.
At the close of the poll, the documents which list the serial numbers of the ballot papers and the list of to whom they have been issued are sealed in special packets and cannot be opened unless a court order to do so is obtained.
Do I have to give a reason for requesting a postal vote?
A postal vote is available on demand and can be until further notice, for a particular election only or last for a specific period. You do not need to give a reason for asking but you must make a written application. Please call (01803) 861234 for an application as soon as possible or visit the About My Vote web site for a downloadable absent voting form, after selecting South Hams District Council as your Authority select "How To Vote" from the left hand menu. Applications cannot be accepted after 5pm on the 11th working day before the day of election to be effective at this election.
If you already have a postal vote and you want your ballot paper to be sent to an address other than the one at which you are registered to vote, you have to tell us the reason why you want to do this. We can refuse to send your ballot paper to the address you request if we are not satisfied with the reason given. We will tell you if this is the case.
What if I make a mistake and spoil my postal ballot paper?
If you make a mistake when you are voting on your postal ballot paper, you can ask for another one. To do this, you must contact the election helpline as quickly as possible as there is only a limited time in which to get a new ballot paper to you. Before you can have a replacement, all the documents that came with your original ballot (including the ballot paper itself) have to be delivered to the Returning Officer.
If you need a replacement ballot paper or any of the other documents that came with your postal vote, call the elections helpline on Totnes (01803) 861234. Replacements cannot be provided after 5.00 pm on the day of the election.
What if I asked for a postal vote and it did not arrive?
If you asked for a postal vote and one does not arrive you must contact the elections helpline as quickly as possible as there is only a limited time in which to get a postal vote to you.
When you applied to vote by post, the Electoral Registration Officer would have sent you a letter to tell you that your application had been received and accepted. If you did not get a letter telling you this, then your application was probably not received by the Electoral Registration Officer.
If you think you should have received a postal vote and you haven’t received it at least four working days before election day, call the elections helpline on Totnes (01803) 861234 immediately.
It’s election day and I haven’t posted my postal vote, what can I do?
You must post your postal vote in sufficient time so that it can be delivered by the Royal Mail to the Returning Officer by 10.00 pm on the day of the election.
You are, however, advised to post your ballot paper at least 2 days before the day of the election to give sufficient time for it to be delivered to the Returning Officer.
You can also deliver your postal vote (not just the ballot paper but its envelope and the postal voting statement) to any polling station in the electoral area in which you are registered to vote on the day of the election. To find out the location of polling stations in your electoral area you can call the elections helpline on Totnes (01803) 861234.
If I become ill in the week before polling day and cannot get to the polling station in person can I still vote?
You can apply for a proxy to vote on your behalf up to 5pm on the day of the election, however the application must be attested and signed by a medically qualified person.
What is a proxy vote?
A proxy vote is used when you cannot get to the polling station and so nominate someone else to vote on your behalf. Their name will be held on a separate list at the polling station. You can vote yourself on polling day if necessary so long as you arrive at the polling station before your proxy. Please call (01803) 861234 for an application as soon as possible or visit the About My Vote web site for a downloadable absent voting form, after selecting South Hams District Council as your Authority select "How To Vote" from the left hand menu.
How do I get a proxy vote?
Please call (01803) 861234 for an application form as soon as possible or visit the About My Vote web site for a downloadable absent voting form, after selecting South Hams District Council as your Authority select "How To Vote" from the left hand menu. Completed applications must be received by the Electoral Registration Officer no later than 5.00 pm six working days before the day of election if they are to be effective for the election.
Can anyone vote as a proxy?
They must be able to vote in the type of election concerned, but do not need to be registered as an elector. No-one can vote as proxy for more than 2 electors in the same electoral area unless they are the spouse, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild of the voter.
The person I want to ask to vote by proxy for me cannot get to the polling station very easily. What should they do?
They can apply to cast their proxy vote by post. Your application for a proxy vote asks you to indicate whether this might be the case. If you tell us so, we will send your proxy the necessary form but the form must be completed and returned by the proxy by 5pm 11 working days before the day of election to be effective for the election.
