Elections Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re unsure whether you are registered to vote you can contact Electoral Services to find out.  We will get back to you within five working days. 

Register to vote by completing the Government online registration form. Find out about how to register to vote on our Electoral register and voting page. 

You must be eligible to vote in the election and must be registered. Find out more about the eligibility criteria and how to register by visiting our Electoral register and voting page. 

Voting can be done in person at your polling station, by post, or by proxy (appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf). Visit our Electoral register and voting page for more information. 

You may be able to apply for a postal or proxy vote instead but there is a deadline for doing this ahead of an election.

Visit our Electoral register and voting page for more information about applying for a postal or proxy vote.

The postal and proxy vote application deadlines will be included in the timetable of key dates that is published on the website ahead of each election.

You don’t need your poll card to be able to go and vote as long as you’re registered and eligible to vote for that election. You can go to your local polling station and give your name and address instead.

As part of the Elections Act 2022, voters are now required to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at most elections. Further information is available on our Elections Act and Voter ID page.

To check whether you are registered to vote, please contact Electoral Services.

Yes, but you would need to cancel your postal vote. This can be done up until the deadline date for applying for a postal vote.

Please check the timetable of key dates published on the website ahead of each election. After this date, your postal vote cannot be cancelled.

Please contact Electoral Services for further details of how to cancel a postal vote.

Alternatively, you may return your completed postal voting pack by hand to a polling station within your electoral area. You will only be able to hand in your own postal vote and the postal votes of up to five other people. Political campaigners can only hand in their own postal vote, and postal votes for up to five other people that are either close relatives, or someone they provide regular care for. Anybody handing in a postal vote in person at the council offices or at a polling station must complete a short form. 

If you aren't able to return your postal vote pack in time via Royal Mail, you can return it via reception at the Civic Centre offices (during office hours) or at your polling station on polling day.  

You will only be able to hand in your own postal vote and the postal votes of up to five other people. Political campaigners can only hand in their own postal vote, and postal votes for up to five other people that are either close relatives, or someone they provide regular care for. 

Anybody handing in a postal vote in person at the council offices or at a polling station must complete a short form. 

If you meet the criteria, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote up until 5pm on the day of the election. Further information and the relevant application forms, can be found on the Electoral Commission's Voting by Proxy webpage.

Polling stations may change depending on the election. Shortly before an election, you will be sent a poll card which contains details of your polling station including a map of the location. Visit our Polling stations, districts and boundaries page for more information. 

Some British citizens living abroad have the right to vote in certain elections held in the UK. To vote from abroad, UK citizens must register as overseas electors. To find out more and to register as an overseas elector visit the Electoral Commission's Voting if you move or live abroad webpage. Further information is available on our Overseas Voters page. 

Details of the candidates standing for election are published on our website and at St Albans City & District Council Offices, Civic Centre, St Peters Street, St Albans, AL1 3JE.

As the administrators of the election, we must remain politically neutral. Therefore, we are unable to provide any information on the policies of particular candidates.

Further details of political parties’ policies can often be found on their websites. Candidates are also likely to visit properties in the run-up to the election to deliver information about their particular policies.