Elections and voting frequently asked questions

This may not necessarily mean that you cannot vote. Check that you are registered by contacting the Electoral Registration Officer right away. 

If you are registered, you do not need your poll card to vote.

Phone the Electoral Registration Officer on 01292 612221.

There may have been a change to your polling place for this election. Did you get a letter to explain this?

Phone the Council Election Office on 01563 576555.

Poll cards are also sent to postal voters.

Does your poll card say 'postal poll card' on the front?

• If yes - you will receive a postal vote for this election.
• If no - phone the Electoral Registration Officer on 01292 612221.

 16 and 17 year olds are allowed to vote at a Council election.

We don't issue replacement poll cards. However, you do not need your poll card to vote at the election. As long as you are on the register (and for a UK Parliamentary election, the necessary photo ID) you will be able to vote.

Phone the Electoral Registration Officer on 01292 612221 if you want to double check if you are on the register.

We apologise for any upset that has been caused. The registration of the death in Ayrshire is normally notified automatically.

Phone the Electoral Registration Officer on 01292 612221 or email ero@ayrshire.vjb.gov.uk with the deceased person's details to ensure they are off the register.

Phone the Electoral Registration Officer on 01292 612221.

You can find out by contacting the Electoral Registration Officer. Phone the Electoral Registration Officer on 01292 612221. 

Applications to register must be made by [date determined by date of election].

Applications received after [date determined by date of election] will not be processed in time for the Council election.

You can apply to register online on the UK Government website or phone the Electoral Registration Officer on 01292 612221. Alternatively, you can apply by filling in a form and returning it to the Electoral Registration Office.

The deadline for registration of applications is [date determined by date of election]. Applications to register should be made as soon as possible.

Applications received after [date determined by date of election] will not be processed in time for this election.

You can apply to register online on the UK Government website or phone the Electoral Registration Officer on 01292 612221. Alternatively, you can apply by filling in a form and returning it to the Electoral Registration Office.

The deadline for registration of applications is [date determined by date of election].

If it's after [date determined by date of election] you can still vote at your old address if you are still registered at that address. However, for future elections you should re-register at your new address.

If you want to check that you are still registered at your old address you should contact the Electoral Registration Office in the area of your old address.

Your application to vote by post must be received by the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on [date determined by date of election].

Phone the Electoral Registration Officer on 01292 612221. 

There will be two major issues of postal votes:

• First issue around [date determined by date of election]
• Second issue around [date determined by date of election]

It depends on when you submit your application what delivery date you will be in.

If you will be away from home you should double check this date. Phone the Council Election Office on 01563 576555.

You can get an application form from the Electoral Registration Office at Ayrshire Valuation Joint Board. 

You need to return the form to the Electoral Registration Officer as soon as possible, It must be received by 5pm on [date determined by date of election].

The postal address is 9 Wellington Square, Ayr KA7 1HL.

Phone the Electoral Registration Officer on 01292 612221.

You can change your postal vote up until 5pm on [date determined by date of election]. You need to make the request to cancel, in writing, to the Electoral Registration Officer.

However, if you have already received your postal vote and posted it back, you will not be allowed to cancel or make changes.

Phone the Electoral Registration Officer on 01292 612221 or email  ero@ayrshire-vjb.gov.uk or write to Electoral Registration Officer, 9 Wellington Square, Ayr KA17 1HL.

You have missed the deadline to apply for a postal vote for the forthcoming election. There may be time to apply for a proxy vote up until 5pm on [date to be determined by date of election].

Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election, ie made after the [date to be determined by date of election] deadline on the grounds of:

• disability suffered after that deadline (or, for applicants who suffered a disability before the deadline, their disability meant that they could not reasonably have made an application in time)
• work/service reasons
• following Scottish Government advice or the advice of a medical professional in relation to coronavirus, being detained in a hospital under the civil sections of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
• or for Scottish prisoners serving a sentence of 12 months or less

must reach the relevant Electoral Registration Officer at the address below by 5pm on [date of election].

To apply on the grounds of work/service, the person must have become aware that they cannot go to the polling station in person after 5pm on Tuesday [date to be determined by date of election].

Phone the Electoral Registration Officer on 01292 612221.

 The Election Office can issue you with a replacement before 10pm on [date of election]. Phone the Election Office on 01563 576555.

Political campaigners are banned from handling postal votes, except where the postal vote is their own, that of a close family member, or someone they provide regular care for.

They are not banned from handling postal votes if they do so in the course of their usual duties (for example, if they work for Royal Mail).

There is now a limit on the number of postal votes one person can hand in - they will not be allowed to hand in more than five postal vote ballot packs for other electors plus their own.

If a person hands in more than five postal ballot packs for other electors, all the postal votes (other than their own) will be rejected.

anyone handing in postal votes will need to complete a 'return of postal votes document form'.

the person handing in the postal votes will need to complete the form with their name, address and the reason for handing in other people's postal votes (where appropriate).

they will also need to complete a declaration that they are not handing in more than the permitted number, and that they are not a political campaigner.

if the form is not completed with all the required information, or to the authorised officer's satisfaction, the postal vote(s) will be rejected.

rejected postal votes will not be included in the count.

after the election, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) will write to electors who have had their postal votes rejected, telling them why.

electors sometimes hand postal votes in directly to the Returning Officer in advance of the election, and on polling day itself.

the same restrictions, limits and requirement to complete a form which apply at polling places, will also apply to postal votes handed in to Council Headquarters.

we will only accept postal votes handed in personally at Council Headquarters Reception and no other council buildings.

any postal votes which are left at any other council building without the 'return of postal voting documents' form being completed will be rejected.

we cannot accept any postal votes which are left in the council mailbox or which are put in the internal mail system.

the secrecy requirements which apply at a polling station are being extended to postal and proxy votes.

it will be an offence to try to find out how someone has voted when completing their postal vote, or to communicate how a postal or proxy voter has voted.

anyone found guilty of breaching the secrecy requirements could face a fine or imprisonment up to six months.

 The date of the election is Thursday [to be determined].

Your poll card should tell you the location of your polling place.

There may have been a review of the polling places in your area since the last election and your polling place may have changed as a result.

Phone the Council Election Office on 01563 576555.

Polling hours are between 7am and 10pm.

Information will be provided by staff at the polling station, or if you opted to vote by post, instructions will be in your ballot pack. Information posters will be displayed in the polling place and also in the polling booth.

Phone the Council Election Office on 01563 576555.

You can download an application form on the Electoral Commission website. Deadline for applications is [date to be determined].

Phone the Electoral Registration Officer on 01292 612221 for further guidance and assistance.

Voters are now required to show photo ID when they vote at polling stations at a UK General Election. You do not need photo ID for Scottish Parliament or local council elections.

Most people already have a valid photo ID. Acceptable forms of photo ID include:

• passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country (including an Irish Passport Card)
• photographic driver's licence issued by the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (including provisional)
• national identity card issued by an EEA state
• biometric immigration document
• an identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (PASS card)
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• a Blue Badge
• concessionary travel pass issued in Scotland
• National Entitlement Card

You can see the full list of accepted forms of photo ID at  Electoral Commission: Accepted forms of photo ID.

Only original documents are accepted - scanned images, pictures on mobile phones or copies will not be accepted.

Expired photo ID is acceptable if the photo is still a good likeness of you.

To be able to vote you may need to provide further proof of identify if there is a discrepancy between your name on your photo ID and your name on the electoral register.

If you don't think you have suitable photo ID you can apply for a free Voter ID document (Voter Authority Certificate). Contact  Ayrshire Valuation Joint Board as soon as possible.

There are different options for casting your vote:

• at a polling station
• by post
• by appointing a proxy to vote on your behalf

All polling stations are fully accessible.

Low level polling booths are available for wheelchair users. Chair/seating provided for voters who cannot stand for long periods.

The staff are trained and have access to equipment to assist disabled electors to vote in secret or with the assistance of polling station staff. Disabled electors may also bring a companion to assist them to vote at a polling station.

Where possible polling places are identified which have car parking provision so that disabled voters may park as close as possible to the station.

Phone the Council Election Office on 01563 576555 for details of access to any particular polling place and the assistance that will be available.

Tactile voting templates and large print versions of ballot papers are available at all polling places as well as magnifiers to increase the size of the text on a document. As well as the large print version poster, an enlarged hand-held copy of the ballot paper can be given to voters who are partially sighted to take into the polling booth for reference when marking their ballot paper.

You can take a companion with you (close relative or elector qualified to vote) to assist you, or ask staff at the polling place for help.

In addition to the above, the Returning Officer also allows voters with disabilities to use any text-to-speech apps, torch or magnified that they have on their phone, to assist them in reading their ballot paper.

Phone the Council Election Office on 01563 576555.

Ballot papers cannot be printed in languages other than English.

However, there will be guidance notices available in other languages in the polling place.

Phone the Council Election Office on 01563 576555 for further information.

Each polling place is different but all have wheelchair access and a low level polling booth. You can obtain more details by contacting the Election Office.

Phone the Council Election Office on 01563 576555 for further information.