Why should I vote?
- There are many reasons to vote:
- It gives you a say on who runs the country, who sits on your
local council and who represents you in Europe
- It give you a say on important issues that affect you
- All across the world, people have died fighting for the right
to vote and be part of a democracy
- Voting ensures the lasting support of the democratic structure.
If the majority choose not to vote then democracy may become a
thing of the past
- Showing that you care with your vote tells candidates that they
must be accountable to the public
- Voting in elections sets a positive example to others who
may be uninterested or unfamiliar with the electoral system
- Remember in order to vote you must be registered.
Voting in person
Most people in the UK choose to cast their vote in person at
their local polling station. Voting at a polling station is very
straighforward and there is always a member of staff available to
help you if you are not sure what to do.
If you are on the electoral register, you will receive a poll
card before the election telling you when and where to vote. The
polling station is often a school or local hall near where you
live. The poll card you receive is for information only, and you do
not need to take it to the polling station with you in order to
vote.
Voting by post
A postal voter is an elector who has applied to have his/her
ballot paper sent to their home address, or another specified
address. Special envelopes are supplied to enable the ballot paper
to be marked in private and returned to the Town Hall.
Voting by proxy
A proxy voter is a person who has been appointed to vote on
behalf of another elector. The proxy will normally attend the
voter's polling station and be handed the voter's ballot paper. In
certain circumstances, the proxy may apply to vote by post on
behalf of the elector.