Forthcoming Elections
UK Parliamentary General Election – Thursday 4 July 2024 link to election page UK General Election (north-ayrshire.gov.uk)
Voting at Elections
Whether you are voting for the first time or simply would like an overview of key elements in the election process, you may find the following information helpful. If you have any questions at all on polling day (the day of the election) simply ask any member of staff at the Polling Place. Alternatively at any other time please email elections@north-ayrshire.gov.uk or call us on 01294 310000.
When, where and how to vote
When you can vote
A few weeks before an election takes place registered voters will be sent a poll card or poll card letter telling them where and when to vote. Registered voters can vote at their allocated polling station from 7.00am to 10.00pm on polling day.
Information on how to register to vote can be found here.
Where to vote
Specific locations are setup across North Ayrshire called “polling places”. Within these buildings there may be one or more “polling stations” (desks) where voters collect their ballot paper to cast their vote. If you are eligible to vote, you will have been allocated a polling place to visit based on where you are registered to vote, this will be listed on your polling card or polling card letter posted to your address.
How to Vote
You can vote:
BSL: What to expect at the polling station, and other ways to vote - YouTube
Accessibility at the polling stations
Everyone must be able to register and cast their vote. They should be able to vote on their own and in secret. We have listed a number of ways we can help you in the polling station.
Support Available
Voters with disabilities can choose anyone who is over 16 years old for Scottish Elections and over 18 years old for UK Parliamentary Elections to accompany them in the polling station to help them to vote. You can also ask the person in charge of the polling station, known as the Presiding Officer, to help you fill in your ballot paper. Simply let a member of staff know as you enter the polling place or when collect your ballot papers. They are legally bound by the Requirement for Secrecy and your vote will remain secret.
We will take all reasonable steps to support voters with disabilities and always aim to improve the range and quality of support.
Polling stations
- All our polling stations in North Ayrshire are accessible with temporary features such as ramps put in place prior to polling day where required.
- Where possible polling stations have car parking so voters with a disability or those with young children may park as close as possible to the polling station
Information for voters
To help voters understand the voting process and how to mark their ballot paper the following are provided at each polling station:
- A notice inside and outside the polling station providing instructions on how to vote.
- A notice in each polling booth providing information on how to mark the ballot paper.
- Large print sample copies of the ballot paper displayed inside the polling station to assist voters who are partially sighted and also voters who would like some time to look at the ballot paper before entering the polling booth.
- An enlarged hand-held copy of the ballot paper. This can be given to voters who are partially sighted to take into the polling booth for reference when marking their ballot paper.
Support within the polling station
Polling stations will have the following equipment and support in place:
- Members of staff, clearly identifiable with name badges, who are very happy to assist and answer any questions. They are also bound by the Requirement for Secrecy so confidentiality is maintained at all times.
- Chairs or seating for voters who cannot stand for long periods.
- Magnifiers to increase the size of the text on a document.
- Tactile voting devices to support voters with visual impairments.
- Polling booths at wheelchair level to ensure voters can access a lower writing surface and cast their vote in secret.
- Pencil grips for voters with dexterity impairments to make pencils easier to hold.
- Acetate sheets to assist voters with dyslexia.
- Additional lighting is available
- Coloured Acetate sheets to assist voters with dyslexia
In addition to the above, the Returning Officer also allows voters with disabilities to use any text-to-speech apps, torch or magnifier that they may have on their phone, to assist them in reading their ballot paper. (Please note this is for the purposes of assisting voters to vote only, taking photographs or recording video in a polling place is not permitted.)
Non-English speakers
The ballot paper cannot be printed in languages other than English. However, there are guidance notes in other languages. These are available in the polling station.
Registration and postal voting leaflets are available to order in other languages from the Electoral Commission website.
Get in touch
To ask for a reasonable adjustment at your polling station, share ideas or provide feedback you can send us an email at elections@north-ayrshire.gov.uk. We welcome all feedback.
Voter ID Page
Elections Act 2022 – Voter Identification
As of 4 May 2023, voters in Scotland need to show photo ID to vote at polling places in UK Parliamentary Elections, including general elections, UK Parliamentary By-elections and recall petitions, however voter ID is not required for Scottish Parliamentary elections, Scottish Parliamentary By-elections or at local council elections or By-elections.
A list of accepted forms of photo ID is available here
If you do not have an accepted form of photo ID you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate or you can download a paper application to apply by post. Paper forms can also be obtained from the Electoral Registration Office, Ayr and should be returned to the Electoral Registration Office.
More information on voter ID and information on where you can obtain a free Voter Authority Certificates, There is also some British Sign Language (BSL) guidance available by following the links below:
Returning your Postal Vote page
Changes in Returning Your Postal Vote by Hand for UK Parliamentary Elections Only
For UK Parliamentary Elections, including UK general elections, UK by-elections and UK recall petitions there is a limit on the number that can be returned by one person. You can return five postal votes plus your own. If you wish to return your postal vote to the polling station or the Election Office you must now complete a ‘Postal Voter Return Form’ which will be available at polling places and the Election Office, North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE. If this form is not completed your vote cannot be accepted.
Postal votes can only be returned to polling stations or to the Election Team in Cunninghame House. Please do not return any postal votes to any North Ayrshire Council mailbox as these will not be counted. Before your vote can be accepted you must complete the ‘Postal Voter Return Form’ which will be filled in at the polling place or when you hand deliver the postal votes in person at the reception desk in Cunninghame House, Irvine (no other reception).
It is an offence for a political campaigner at an election to handle the postal vote(s) of another person, unless that person is a close relative or if they are employed or engaged with an organisation that provides regular care to that person.
A close relative is defined as a spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child, grandchild or two people living together as if they were a married couple or civil partners.
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Scottish Parliamentary Elections – 7 May 2026
Scottish Local Government Elections – 6 May 2027
By-elections can happen at any time and occur when a vacancy arises, for example, due to the death or resignation of an elected member.