Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm and it is important you are ready to take part and have your say in who represents you.
Your poll card tells you when and where to vote and you must go to your allocated polling station. You do not need to take your polling card with you to vote, but you must take suitable photo ID.
This is the first time you will have to show photo ID to be able to vote as part of new legislation introduced by the Government last year. If you fail to turn up with suitable ID, you will not be issued with a ballot paper.
There are many forms of ID that are accepted, including:
Expired ID will also be accepted, as long as you still look like the photograph on the document. Bringing your poll card by itself will not entitle you to vote.
A full list of accepted forms of ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website, along with more information about the new requirement.
As part of the changes, those who do not have a suitable form of ID have had the opportunity to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate to show on polling day. However, the deadline to apply for one of these has now expired.
If you lose your poll card, you can still vote, but you need to give your name and address to the staff on duty.
If you have lost your polling card and do not know where your polling station is, you can check your polling station out on Wokingham Borough Council’s website.
Plan what time you will cast your vote at the polling station, leaving plenty of time before the 10pm deadline. If you are in a queue at 10pm, you will still be able to vote.
If you arrive at the polling station after 10pm, then the poll will be closed and you will have missed your chance to take part.
Once you have shown your photo ID, the staff at the polling station will give you a ballot paper listing the candidates you can vote for and they are on hand to provide advice on the voting process.
Take your ballot paper into a polling booth so that nobody can see how you vote. Read the ballot paper carefully, as it will tell you how to cast your vote. Do not write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted.
Mark your ballot paper according to the instructions – a pencil will be provided for you to do this. Finally, fold your completed ballot paper in half and pop it in the ballot box.
The count starts at 9am on Friday (5 May) and Wokingham Borough Council will be sharing updates on the results as they are announced. Follow Wokingham Borough Council on Twitter for the latest information.
