General Election 2017: How to vote
8 June 2017
On 8 June, the UK will go the polls in the general election. Here's how to vote. The election takes place on 8 June, between 07:00 and 22:00 BST.  If you are in a queue at 22:00 BST, you will be guaranteed the opportunity to vote. The general election will decide which party (or coalition of parties) forms the next UK government. There are 650 seats in the UK Parliament's House of Commons up for grabs. If you are on the electoral register, you should have received a polling card through the post which has your name, polling number and the address of your polling station printed on it. Polling stations are usually set up in public buildings such as schools, community centres and village halls near where you live. If you have not received a polling card but think you should have, contact your local authority's election office. If you have lost your polling card, the office will be able to tell you where your polling station is. To find the contact details of your local office, enter your postcode on the About My Vote website. No. The polling card is for your information only, but taking it to the polling station can speed up the process. No. You must vote at the polling station to which you have been assigned. Any voter who has not had a chance to post their postal vote (if they have asked for one) can still take it to their polling station. When you arrive, staff will take your details and cross off your name on their checklist. In Northern Ireland, staff will also ask for a form of photographic ID. You will be given a ballot paper listing candidates and parties you can vote for. It will be printed on special paper or feature an official mark or number to combat fraud. Yes. Take the ballot paper to one of the booths, which are screened to ensure secrecy. Each polling booth should include sharpened pencils, attached to string long enough to accommodate both right and left-handed voters. You can use you own pen or pencil if you prefer. Read the ballot paper carefully before you vote. Put an X in the box next to the name of the person you want to vote for. If you mark any more boxes, your paper will be invalid. The Electoral Commission says the best way to make sure your vote is counted is to mark an X in a box. But a smiley face or anything which is interpreted by a returning officer as an expression of preference "must not be rejected if the voter's intention is clear", its guidance to Returning Officers says. Fold the ballot paper so others cannot see your choice and post it in the ballot box. Don't worry. You can get your ballot paper reissued, so long as you have not put it in the ballot box. Yes. The verification of the used, unused and spoilt ballot papers is a legal requirement. Some people spoil their votes as a means of registering their democratic right to express a view, but not vote for any of the candidates. Yes, everyone has the right to request assistance to mark their ballot paper. You can do this by asking the presiding officer to mark the paper for you. Or bring a close family member who is over 18, or someone who is eligible to vote at the election, such as a support worker, with you. If you have a visual impairment, you can ask for a special voting device that allows you to vote on your own in secret. A large print version of the ballot paper should also be clearly displayed in the polling station. Returning officers must also consider accessibility requirements when planning for an election, and polling stations are selected in consultation with local disability groups so that wheelchair ramps and disabled parking spaces are available. If a voter cannot enter the polling station because of a physical disability, the presiding officer may take the ballot paper to the elector. Yes. If you need help, call the Electoral Commission's public information line on 0333 103 1928. A dedicated helpline for anyone with a learning disability who has questions about casting their vote, or experiences any difficulties in doing so, has also been set up by Mencap, a partner of the Electoral Commission. The helpline is also available to the families and carers of people with learning disabilities, and to polling station staff. The number is 020 7696 5588. If you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill on polling day, you can apply for an emergency proxy up until 17:00 BST on the day. No. You cannot vote unless you are on the electoral register. No, people cannot be forced to vote. The votes will start to be counted as soon as the polls close at 22:00 BST. Constituencies will start to declare within the first few hours of the vote, with a large number expected between 03:00 BST on Friday and 05:00 BST. It is difficult to predict when a new government will be formed, and depends on how close the election is.
The election takes place on 8 June, between 07:00 and 22:00 BST.  If you are in a queue at 22:00 BST, you will be guaranteed the opportunity to vote.
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When can I vote?
The general election will decide which party (or coalition of parties) forms the next UK government. There are 650 seats in the UK Parliament's House of Commons up for grabs.
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What are we voting for?
If you are on the electoral register, you should have received a polling card through the post which has your name, polling number and the address of your polling station printed on it. Polling stations are usually set up in public buildings such as schools, community centres and village halls near where you live. If you have not received a polling card but think you should have, contact your local authority's election office. If you have lost your polling card, the office will be able to tell you where your polling station is. To find the contact details of your local office, enter your postcode on the About My Vote website.
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How do I find my polling station?
No. You must vote at the polling station to which you have been assigned. Any voter who has not had a chance to post their postal vote (if they have asked for one) can still take it to their polling station.
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Can I go to any polling station?
When you arrive, staff will take your details and cross off your name on their checklist. In Northern Ireland, staff will also ask for a form of photographic ID.
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What do I do when I get to the polling station?
You will be given a ballot paper listing candidates and parties you can vote for. It will be printed on special paper or feature an official mark or number to combat fraud.
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What happens next?
Yes. Take the ballot paper to one of the booths, which are screened to ensure secrecy. Each polling booth should include sharpened pencils, attached to string long enough to accommodate both right and left-handed voters. You can use you own pen or pencil if you prefer. Read the ballot paper carefully before you vote.
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Then I vote?
Put an X in the box next to the name of the person you want to vote for. If you mark any more boxes, your paper will be invalid.
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How do I vote?
The Electoral Commission says the best way to make sure your vote is counted is to mark an X in a box. But a smiley face or anything which is interpreted by a returning officer as an expression of preference "must not be rejected if the voter's intention is clear", its guidance to Returning Officers says.
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Can I put a smiley face instead?
Fold the ballot paper so others cannot see your choice and post it in the ballot box.
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What do I do with my marked ballot paper?
Don't worry. You can get your ballot paper reissued, so long as you have not put it in the ballot box.
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What if I make a mistake?
Yes. The verification of the used, unused and spoilt ballot papers is a legal requirement. Some people spoil their votes as a means of registering their democratic right to express a view, but not vote for any of the candidates.
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Can I spoil my ballot paper?
Yes, everyone has the right to request assistance to mark their ballot paper. You can do this by asking the presiding officer to mark the paper for you. Or bring a close family member who is over 18, or someone who is eligible to vote at the election, such as a support worker, with you. If you have a visual impairment, you can ask for a special voting device that allows you to vote on your own in secret. A large print version of the ballot paper should also be clearly displayed in the polling station. Returning officers must also consider accessibility requirements when planning for an election, and polling stations are selected in consultation with local disability groups so that wheelchair ramps and disabled parking spaces are available. If a voter cannot enter the polling station because of a physical disability, the presiding officer may take the ballot paper to the elector.
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I have got a disability. Can I get help?
Yes. If you need help, call the Electoral Commission's public information line on 0333 103 1928. A dedicated helpline for anyone with a learning disability who has questions about casting their vote, or experiences any difficulties in doing so, has also been set up by Mencap, a partner of the Electoral Commission. The helpline is also available to the families and carers of people with learning disabilities, and to polling station staff. The number is 020 7696 5588.
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I have a learning disability. Can I get help?
No. You cannot vote unless you are on the electoral register.
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I forgot to register, can I vote?
No, people cannot be forced to vote.
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Is it compulsory to vote?
The votes will start to be counted as soon as the polls close at 22:00 BST. Constituencies will start to declare within the first few hours of the vote, with a large number expected between 03:00 BST on Friday and 05:00 BST. It is difficult to predict when a new government will be formed, and depends on how close the election is.
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When will I know the result?