Your guide to voting in the 2024 general election
The UK is going to the polls today to vote in the 2024 general election. We’ve teamed up with Bumble to remind you to use your vote, make your move.
Polling stations across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland opened at 7am this morning and will remain open until 10pm tonight. As soon as voting closes, the results of exit polls will be announced, and counting will begin straight away. Most results are expected in the early hours of Friday morning.
650 MPs will be elected under the first-past-the-post system, in which the candidate with the most votes in each individual constituency is elected. If a party wins in 326 constituencies, it will have secured a majority.
Where do I go to vote?
If you’re over 18 and registered to vote, you should’ve received a poll card telling you where to go. You can also find your nearest polling station here. You can only vote at the polling station location on your card, but you do not have to take your poll card with you.
However, you do need to bring photo ID in order to vote. This is the first general election in which you have to show photo ID, so remind your friends, family and colleagues! There are 22 accepted forms of ID, including driving licenses and passports. It’s worth noting that you can use an out-of-date ID, provided you still look the same.
What if I can’t make it on the day?
If you’re registered to vote but can’t get to a polling station - for example, due to illness or work - you can apply for an emergency proxy vote before 5pm today. That means you’ll nominate someone to vote on your behalf. You can also apply for this if the ID you were planning on using has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.
📣 Use your vote, make your move. We’ve teamed up with Bumble to produce this handy guide to empower everyone to get out and vote.