Are you ready to vote ahead of next month's general election?

With the general election less than a month away, are you ready to cast your vote?

Elections for Members of Parliament for the five UK Parliamentary constituencies covering the Dorset Council area are taking place on Thursday 4 July 2024.

The candidates nominated will be published on our website by 5pm on Friday 7 June 2024.

To have your say, you need to be registered to vote, if you’re not already registered, you will need to do so by midnight on Tuesday, June 18.

It's quick and easy to register online by visiting the dedicated GOV.UK register to vote web page. 

Voting in person at a polling station

Poll cards tell you where you should vote – you can only vote at your allocated polling station. 

Don't forget you need Voter ID to vote in person

Accepted forms of ID include a passport, driver’s licence, and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person's bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card.

Voters will be able to use expired photo ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply for a free photographic ID online or by completing a paper form by 5pm on Wednesday, June 26.

Voting by post

Many residents have already signed up for a postal vote. If you would like to apply for a postal vote at these elections, you need to apply before 5pm on Wednesday, June 19.

To apply to vote by post, visit the GOV.UK apply for a postal vote web page.

If you have applied to vote by post, you will receive a ballot paper in the post with a form asking for your signature and your date of birth.

You will need to post the forms back in the envelopes provided as soon as possible. If you miss the post, you can take the envelope to a polling station within the parliamentary constituency or to the electoral services office, where you will be required to complete a form.

Voting by proxy

If you can't visit the polling station on election day, you can nominate someone to vote on your behalf.

You will need to give a reason for the decision to have a proxy vote and you need to apply before 5pm on Wednesday, June 26.

To apply, visit the GOV.UK apply to vote by proxy web page.

Jonathan Mair, Director of Legal and Democratic at Dorset Council, said:

“To have your say on who gets elected you must be registered to vote. The deadline for registering is midnight on Tuesday 18 June. If you have not yet registered to vote, have recently moved house or recently turned 18, you will need to register in order to be able to vote. It takes just five minutes to apply online.

“However you decide to vote, make sure you are able to have your say.”