How do I vote in a General Election?

Saturday, 19 May 2012, 08:51 PM London

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	How do I vote in a General Election?

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	What is Haringey Council responsible for?

	Who are the candidates in the Local Election?

	Who are the candidates in the General Election?

	Calling all prospective local councillors

How do I vote in a General Election ?

Firstly make sure your name is on the electoral register. Shortly before the local elections you will receive a ‘polling card’ through the post. This will give you information about where to go to vote, and the times you can vote at. Voting takes place in ‘polling stations’ across the borough, and many public building are used as polling stations on election days. You must go to the polling station named on your polling card, which will be close to your home – you can’t just turn up to vote at any polling station! It is helpful if you can take your polling card with you when you go to vote, but you don’t have to.

How many people am I voting for in a General Election?

You are voting for one person, as there is one MP for each constituency. You write a cross on the ballot paper next to the name of the candidate you wish to vote for. In a general election you must not vote for more than one candidate or your vote will not be counted.

What happens when I get to the polling station?

When you arrive at your polling station you will be given a ballot paper with a list of the candidates names in your constituency on it. You then chose the candidate that you want to be your MP and mark a cross on the ballot paper by their name. Do not put a cross by the name of more than one candidate or your vote will not be counted!
You then post your ballot paper into the ballot box, and that’s it! - you have voted!

What if I can’t get to a polling station on election day? Are there other ways to vote?

There are other ways you can vote – you can also vote by post, or by ‘proxy’, or by ‘proxy postal voting’.
Postal Votes – download the postal vote application form here and return it to Haringey’s Electoral Registration Team no later than 11 working days before the election. You will then be sent a ballot paper which you must return before the day of the election.
Proxy Votes – Voting by proxy means that you can appoint someone else to vote for you. You can get the ‘vote by proxy’ application form from Haringey’s Electoral Services Team (telephone 0845 055 0922). The application form must be returned to the electoral services team no later than 6 working days before the election. The person you appoint will then be able to cast your vote for you.
Postal Proxy Voting – if the person you appoint to vote for you (your ‘proxy’) is going to be away from home on the day of the election, they can arrange for your proxy ballot paper to be posted to them by contacting the borough’s electoral services team.
For more information about this contact Haringey’s Electoral Services Team on 0845 055 0922.

So, I’ve voted in the General Election – what happens next?

After the polling stations close the process of counting the votes begins. The count takes place through the night at Alexandra Palace, and after the count has finished the results are announced.
The candidate with the most votes in each constituency is elected and becomes the new MP for that constituency. The results will also be published here on the Inharingey website so you can see who your new MP is, and get information about how to contact them.
Your MP represents the interests of everyone in their constituency in Parliament – not just those who voted for them.

Why let these three have your say? That's what happens when you don't vote.

Voter turnout in Haringey is traditionally very low – just 35% in the last local elections.

Related info
What is the cabinet? What is Parliament?


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