The 2024 UK general election takes place on the 4th of July – this was an unexpected announcement, which isn’t something us autistics like, but it is a chance to change the way the country is run.
How does it work?
The general election is to elect Members of Parliament – or MPs – to the House of Commons. The UK is divided into 650 areas, called constituencies, and each of these elects one MP to represent local residents at Westminster. Most candidates represent a political party, but some stand as independents.
In a general election, each person has one vote. On election day, registered voters in each constituency vote for their preferred candidate in their local polling station. Some people vote by post in advance. Under a system called “first past the post”, the candidate who gets the most votes becomes the MP for that area.
After the votes have been counted, the King asks the leader of the party with the most MPs to become prime minister and to form a government. The leader of the party with the second highest number of MPs becomes the leader of the opposition.
Who can and can’t vote?
Anyone on the electoral register aged 18 or over on polling day can vote in the general election as long as they are a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a Republic of Ireland citizen with a UK address.
All UK citizens who live abroad can register to vote in the constituency where they were previously resident or on the electoral roll as long as they are not legally excluded from voting.
Those who cannot vote in general elections include prisoners serving a sentence in jail, and Peers from the House of Lords.
The deadline to register to vote in the general election is 23:59 BST on Tuesday 18 June.
Register to vote with this link
Voting in person
You can vote in person at a polling station (usually in a public building, such as a school or local hall).
You’ll be sent a poll card just before an election or referendum telling you when to vote and at which polling station. You can only vote at the polling station location on your card. You do not have to take your poll card with you.
If you have not received a poll card but think you should, contact your local Electoral Registration Office. You can still vote if you’ve lost your card.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on the day of an election (‘polling day’).
When you get to the polling station, give your name and address to the staff inside the polling station when you arrive. You’ll need to show your photo ID to confirm your identity in some elections and referendums. You’ll be given a ballot paper containing a list of the people, parties or options you can vote for.
When filling in your ballot paper follow the instructions on the notices in the polling booth and on the top of the ballot paper to vote.
What counts as a valid photo ID?
You’ll need one of the following types of photo ID to vote:
· a UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional)
· a driving licence issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands
· a UK passport
· a passport issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or a Commonwealth country
· a PASS card (National Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
· a Blue Badge
· a biometric residence permit (BRP)
· a Defence Identity Card (MOD form 90)
· a national identity card issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
· a Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card
· a Voter Authority Certificate
· an Anonymous Elector’s Document
You can also use one of the following travel passes as photo ID when you vote:
· an older person’s bus pass
· a disabled person’s bus pass
· an Oyster 60+ card
· a Freedom Pass
· a Scottish National Entitlement Card (NEC)
· a 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
· a Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
· a Northern Ireland concessionary travel pass
The photo on your ID must look like you – it won’t matter if you have a different hairstyle or are not wearing glasses in the photo but are currently, but if you could be mistaken for a totally different person you will need to use a newer ID or get one.
You can still use your ID to vote even if it has expired.
Voting by post
You must apply for a postal vote if you want to vote by post, for example if:
· you’re away from home
· you’re abroad and want to vote in England, Scotland or Wales
· you can’t get to the polling station in person to vote
You can apply for a postal vote for one of the following:
· a single election on a specific date
· a specific period if you want to vote in England, Scotland or Wales
You need to reapply for a postal vote every three years. Make a new application for a postal vote if you move house or you’ll be away from home when the postal vote is sent out.
If you have a long-term postal vote that you applied for before 31 October 2023, this will expire on 31 January 2026. The electoral services team at your local council will contact you before your postal vote expires.
You can use these links to:
· apply online for a postal vote
· apply by post for a postal vote
When voting by post, you should:
· mark your vote on your ballot paper in secret
· fill in the postal voting statement
· put the ballot and statement in the envelope provided
· seal the envelope yourself
· Post your ballot back as quickly as possible to make sure it’s counted.
If you’re too late to post your ballot paper take it to your local polling station by 10pm on election day, or Electoral Registration Office before they close.
Your ballot paper needs to clearly display your details and voting choice. If it has been damaged or lost you need to get another one.
You can either:
· ask your local Electoral Registration Office to post a replacement
· collect a replacement from your local Electoral Registration Office up to 5pm on election day (or the day before in Northern Ireland)
You cannot vote at a polling station if you registered to vote by post but your ballot paper was lost or damaged.
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