All You Need to Know About Voting in Person

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On 6 May, Dacorum residents are going to the polls to have their say in the elections for Hertfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner. Some residents will also be voting in by-elections for two Dacorum Borough Council wards, Tring Central and Leverstock Green.

You can view the notices of election, as well as the statement of persons nominated here.

Where is my polling station?

If you have registered to vote you will have received a poll card through the post. On your poll card you will find the details of your polling station under the ‘voting information’ section. Be sure to double check the address before heading out to vote in case your polling station has changed since you last voted.

If you have lost your poll card you can check where your polling station is by entering your postcode on the Electoral Commission website. Click here to find out more.

Alternatively, you can find the locations of all polling stations in Dacorum here.

When does my polling station open?

All polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm on the day of poll. You can vote at any time within this window. If you are still in a queue waiting to vote at 10pm, you will be able to vote before the polls close.

What safety measures are in place at the polling station?

Polling stations are prepared and ready to make voting in this year’s election a safe experience for everyone. You can expect to see many of the measures you’ve become used to in shops and other indoor spaces, including hand sanitising stations and one-way operating systems.

You will be required to wear a face mask or covering when you enter the polling station (unless you are exempt). If you forget to bring your own, polling station staff will be on hand to provide disposable face masks.

To minimise contact with others, please bring your own pen or pencil to fill out your ballot paper. Again, staff will be able to provide sanitised writing materials if you forget.

You may find that you will have to queue outside the polling station before you vote. This is to make sure that everyone inside the polling station can maintain a safe distance from one another. Windows and doors will also remain open throughout the day to ensure that our polling stations are well ventilated.

Additional staff will be on hand to assist with doorway management, one-way operating systems and regular cleaning of polling booths. All staff working in the polling stations will be requested to take a rapid response COVID-19 test at least 24 hours before polling day.

Can I still vote if I develop COVID-19 symptoms?

If you feel unwell or are self-isolating on polling day, you must not attend your polling station.

You will be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote on polling day. A proxy vote allows someone else to vote on your behalf. Email absentvote@dacorum.gov.uk or download and complete the application form here. This application must be received by 5pm on the day of poll.

What happens when I get there?

You may have to queue when you arrive at the polling station. Please be patient, staff will work to enable you to vote as quickly as possible.

When you enter staff will provide you with a ballot paper listing who you can vote for. Depending on the elections taking place in your area, you may have more than one ballot paper to complete.

Take the ballot paper into a polling booth, read it carefully and complete it in line with the instructions. Do not write anything else on the ballot paper or your vote will be spoiled and may not be counted. If you make a mistake, you can ask staff for a replacement ballot paper.

You should not take photos inside the polling station as this might put the secrecy of the ballot at risk. You can take photos outside of the polling station and share them on social media to encourage your friends and family to vote.

When you’re finished, fold your completed ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box located on the desk beside the poll clerks.

What if I have access issues?

If you have a disability which means you can’t fill in the ballot paper yourself, you can ask the presiding officer to mark the ballot paper for you, or you can bring someone along to the polling station to help you.

If you have a visual impairment, you can ask for a large print ballot paper to refer to when you cast your vote, or a special tactile voting device that is designed so you can vote on your own.

Can I discuss who I voted for?

Your vote is yours, and yours alone. You do not need to tell anyone how you voted.

Political discussion is not allowed inside and immediately around the polling station to remove the risk of influencing how others vote.

Exit polls are sometimes conducted by private companies working for newspapers or broadcasters. They may ask you who you voted for when you leave the polling station to help them predicted what the outcome of the election might be. You do not need to respond to their questions if you do not want to.

What are ‘tellers’?

You might see people outside the polling station who ask you for the number on your poll card. These people are called ‘tellers’ and are volunteering on behalf of candidates or parties. They will use your information you give them to check who has voted, and to remind people who haven’t to do so.

When will the results be announced?

Hertfordshire County Council election results will be announced on Saturday 8 May.

The result of the Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner election, and the Dacorum Borough Council by-election results, will be announced on Monday 10 May.

You will be able to find the results of the elections on Dacorum Borough Council’s social media pages and website here.