How to vote on 7 May

Next week, voters in Scotland and Wales will elect representatives to their national parliaments, while a number of local council and mayoral polls will take place in England. 

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on 7 May in England, Scotland and Wales. Make your vote count by supporting candidates that align with your – and PCS’s – values. 

English local and mayoral elections

If you’re voting in the local and mayoral elections in England, you will need to take a photo ID to vote at a polling station in this election. (You do not need your poll card to vote.)

Accepted forms of ID include a passport and a driver's licence. An expired ID can be used if you are still recognisable in the photo.  

To receive your ballot, you will need to show your ID. A private area will be available if you want your ID viewed in private. 

Anyone arriving at the polling station without an accepted form of ID will be unable to vote. 

Senedd and Scottish Parliament elections

You do not need an ID to vote in person in the Scottish Parliament or Senedd elections. Yet the voting process is almost the same. 

At your assigned polling station, a staff member will ask for your name and address to check that you are on the electoral register. After they give you your ballot paper, take it to a polling booth to cast your vote in secret.

Complete your ballot paper using the pencil provided in the polling booth. Don't write anything else on the paper or your vote may not be counted.

And if you make a mistake, feel free to ask the polling station staff for a replacement ballot paper, and fill it in again. Once you're done, fold your completed ballot paper and put it in the ballot box. 

Other voting guidance

If you're not sure what to do, or need any help, just ask the staff at the polling station – they will be happy to assist you to cast your vote. 

Every polling station will have a wheelchair accessible polling booth. Pencils, magnifiers and large print ballot papers will be available.

You can even take your phone into the polling booth to use a magnifier or text-to-speech app. There will be a place to sit, if needed. 

People with a learning disability and autistic people have an equal right to vote. Find out all you need to know about voting on the My Vote, My Voice website, which has accessible, easy-read web pages, including a quick guide to voting.

Visit the Electoral Commission website  for further information on how to vote.

This article is published in English but can be translated easily into Welsh using the Recite Me toolbar on this website.