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Information about voting

Frequently asked questions about voting in the Borough of Rushmoor.

Why vote?

Every day, important decisions affecting all our lives are taken by Members of Parliament, Members of the European Parliament and your local councillors. Make sure you help choose them by using your right to vote. All votes are equal - your vote is as important as anyone else's.

Who can vote?

In order to vote you must be 18 years old or over, and your name must be included on the Register of Electors. You can check you are registered with Electoral Services who will supply you with a form if you are not registered. The form is also available on this website (see the related article on voting).

You can register at any time, but it normally takes between two and seven weeks to include or update your details. If you move home during the year, you can apply to add your name to the register for your new address.

The canvass of local electors takes place each year between August and October. You must return the form including the details of all those living at the property who are over 18 and those who are 16 or 17 years old, as they may reach the age of 18 while the register is still being used.

How do I vote?

If your name is on the Register of Electors you will receive a poll card a few weeks before an election is due, which will tell you when and where you can vote. This card is for information only - if you lose it or forget it you can still vote.

You need to go to the polling station indicated on your poll card, which is detailed below, where you will be issued with a ballot paper. You then take your ballot paper into a booth, put a mark on the ballot paper next to the name of the candidate or candidates you wish to vote for and put your paper in the ballot box. That is all there is to it.

Where do I go to vote?

On the day of the election, you should go to your local polling station to vote. If you are not sure where to go, the links on the right of this page can take you to the relevant information. If you are not sure which ward you live in, the interactive map should be able to help.

What time are the Polling Stations open?

The Polling Stations will be open between 7am and 10pm.

Voting by post is easy!

If you are on the Register of Electors you can vote by post. You can vote by post at just one election, for a set period or to last as long as you like. Each elector has to apply for his or her own postal vote.

The application form is on this website (see the related article on voting).

You can cancel or change an existing postal vote application by contacting us. If there is enough time before the election, we will send you confirmation.

Voting by proxy

You can also apply to vote by proxy. However, you can not have a proxy vote 'on demand': you need to apply with a valid reason, for example, if you are ill or on holiday abroad. You can get an application form from Electoral Services or from this website (click on the 'see also' page on voting).