Everything you need to know ahead of polling day

MILLIONS of people across the UK will cast their votes in the General Election tomorrow (July 4), choosing MPs in 650 constituencies.

The nationwide vote will lead to the formation of a new UK government for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland for up to five years.

The last election was held in December 2019.

There are six constituencies in Glasgow.

They are Glasgow East, Glasgow North, Glasgow North East, Glasgow South, Glasgow South West and Glasgow West.

READ NEXT: What Glasgow voters need to know about the 2024 general election

Who are the candidates for Glasgow East?

CLARK Matthew James  - Scottish Liberal Democrats

GRADY John - Scottish Labour Party

KERR Thomas Jordan - Scottish Conservative and Unionist

KETTYLES Amy - Scottish Greens

LINDEN David - SNP

MCLAUGHLIN Liam - Scottish Socialist Party - Free Public Transport

MCLEOD Donnie - Reform UK

Fuse, based on Shettleston Road, is a charity which helps youngsters across Glasgow East by providing a safe space to learn new skills and develop confidence.

The charity, which has called Glasgow East home for more than a decade now, said the new government must tackle the root causes of poverty - the biggest problem in the area, according to them.

You can read more about Glasgow East HERE.

Who are the candidates for Glasgow North?

ASGHAR Naveed - Scottish Conservative and Unionist

BURNS Helen - Reform UK

DUANE Iris - Scottish Greens

DURIE Nick - Alba Party: Yes to Scottish Independence

O'MALLEY Daniel John - Scottish Liberal Democrats

RHODES Martin - Scottish Labour Party

THEWLISS Alison Emily - SNP

The Common Wheel charity in Ruchill, offers cycle maintenance workshops and art and craft classes for people with mental health issues.

The charity has been running for 23 years and said demand has grown but resources are becoming ever more hard to come by in what has become a competitive landscape.

The organisers said mental health issues and funding for community groups is vital in Glasgow North.

You can read more about Glasgow North HERE.

Who are the candidates for Glasgow North East?

BURKE Maureen - Scottish Labour Party

CONNELLY Robert Henry - Scottish Conservative and Unionist

LEWIS Ewan - Scottish Greens

MCKERNAN Catherine - Alba Party: Yes to Scottish Independence

MCLAUGHLIN Anne - SNP

SERMANNI Chris - Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialists Coalition

STEELE Gary - Community Party of Britain

THOMSON Sheila - Scottish Liberal Democrats

WALMSLEY Jonathan - Reform UK

PEEK is a charity helping hundreds of people across the Glasgow North East ward every single day.

With the cost-of-living crisis, the charity says child poverty is a particular problem in the area, which they claim is ever-growing.

You can read more about Glasgow North East HERE.

Who are the candidates for Glasgow South?

CHRISTIE Niall - Scottish Greens

KUMAR Dhruva - Alba Party: Yes to Scottish Independence

MALIK Haroun - Scottish Conservative and Unionist

MCDONALD Stewart - SNP

MCKEE Gordon - Scottish Labour Party

MCLAUGHLIN Peter Michael - Scottish Liberal Democrats

RAJA Danny - Reform UK

SMITH Brian - Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

The Pollokshaws Community Hub and Garden is a community development organisation run by local people, providing a range of activities to assist people to learn new skills, improve their health and well being, build social bonds and reduce isolation and take part in their community.

Some people who regularly attend the centre spoke to the Glasgow Times about their hopes for the area and the issues they believe need to be tackled.

The key issues they highlighted include poverty, social isolation and a lack of support for health services.

You can read more about Glasgow South HERE.

Who are the candidates for Glasgow South West?

AHMED Zubir - Scottish Labour Party

HAMELINK John - Scottish Greens

MCGARRY Paul - Scottish Liberal Democrats

MCRAE Morag - Reform UK

OSY Tony - Alba Party: Yes to Scottish Independence

RASHID Mamum Ur - Scottish Conservative and Unionist

STEPHENS Chris - SNP

The Govan Community Project is a community-based organisation working in south west Glasgow supporting Govan's diverse community and refugees and people seeking asylum across the city.

Traci Kirkland, head of charity, says she believes poverty and housing are areas of concern for the local community.

You can find out more about Glasgow South West HERE.

Who are the candidates for Glasgow West?

CALDER James Stuart - Scottish Liberal Democrats

CORMACK John - Scottish Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ's Lordship"

FERGUSON Patricia - Scottish Labour Party

HAMEED Faten - Scottish Conservative and Unionist

MONAGHAN Carol - SNP

MOORE Dionne - Reform UK

QUAIL Nick - Scottish Greens

In Scotstoun, the Kingsway Community Connections group works to deliver vital support to people in the area and co-ordinate local activities and events with local groups.

Members, volunteers and staff spoke to the Glasgow Times about their hopes for the area.

Housing was an issue that people wanted addressed.

You can find out more about Glasgow West HERE.

READ NEXT: What should and should I not do on election day?

Who can vote in tomorrow's general election?

To vote in a general election you must be registered to vote, be 18 or over on the day of the election, be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen and be resident at an address in the UK.

UK citizens living abroad who wish to vote must be registered as an overseas voter.

Citizens of other countries or convicted prisoners detained in prison cannot vote.

Do voters need ID?

Yes, you need photo ID to vote in person.

Per the government website, your photo ID must look like you.

You can still use your ID even if it has expired.

What photo ID can I use to vote?

You will need one of the following types of photo ID:

• A UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional)

• A driving licence issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands

• A UK passport

• A passport issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or a Commonwealth country

• A PASS card (National Proof of Age Standards Scheme)

• A Blue Badge

• A biometric resident permit (BRP)

• A Defence Identity Card (MOD form 90)

• A national identity card issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

• A Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card

• A Voter Authority Certificate

• An Anonymous Elector’s Document

You can also use one of the following travel passes as photo ID:

• An older person’s bus pass

• A disabled person’s bus pass

• An Oyster 60+ card

• A Freedom Pass

• A Scottish National Entitlement Card (NEC)

• A 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card

• A Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card

• A Northern Ireland concessionary travel pass

Do I need a polling card?

A polling card, which tells you when you can vote and at which polling station, is not required to cast your vote.

Simply tell the staff there your name and address when you arrive.

When will voting open and close?

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm.

You are entitled to vote as long as you are inside the polling station or in a queue outside at 10pm.

How do I vote?

What do I do at the polling station?

You may have to queue outside before you get into the polling station as they can get very busy, especially towards the end of the day.

Once you are inside the polling station, the staff will check you are on the electoral register, ask for your photo ID and hand you a ballot paper.

You should take this to a voting booth, read the instructions on it and mark the ballot paper with your vote.

You can then place it in the ballot box and leave the venue.

Can I vote for more than one person?

You are only allowed to vote for one candidate on the ballot paper, by putting a cross (X) in the box next to their name.

Leaving any other mark on the ballot paper, including voting for more than one candidate or party, or writing anything which could identify you or leads to doubt about who you intended to vote for, will result in the ballot paper not being counted.

Doing this on purpose is known as “spoiling” your ballot.

What is First Past the Post and how does it work?

The voting system used to elect MPs to the UK Parliament is called First Past the Post (FPTP).

The UK is divided into 650 constituencies. On election day, voters receive a ballot paper with a list of candidates for their constituency. As only one MP will represent the area, each party only has one candidate to choose from.

Voters put a cross next to their favourite candidate and the candidate with the most votes becomes MP.

What do I do if I cannot make it to the polling station on the day or lose my ID?

There are various reasons a person who intended to vote in-person at a polling station on election day may be unable to at short notice, such as a medical emergency, work requirements or loss of photo ID.

Under these circumstances, a prospective voter can apply for an emergency proxy vote where another person casts your ballot on your behalf.

They must take their own ID with them.

Applicants must send the relevant form to their local Electoral Registration Office by 5pm on polling day.

Can I take a selfie inside the polling station?

Photographs are not allowed inside polling stations as the Electoral Commission says this risks compromising the secrecy of the ballot.

Revealing how somebody else voted, even by accident, could land you with a £5000 fine or up to six months in prison.

Can I use my own pen or pencil?

Yes, voters are allowed to bring their own pen/pencil to fill in their ballot paper.

Though there is no legal requirement to use them, pencils are provided inside polling stations because they are less likely to leak or run than pens which use ink.

Can I take my dog with me?

Usually, animals are not allowed inside polling stations, apart from assistance dogs.

Though the station’s presiding officer may theoretically give permission for pets to be taken inside, this is unlikely to be the case.

If you choose to bring a furry friend, they should be safely secured outside the venue – you can always chat politics with them on the way home.

What else can I not do inside a polling station?

Once inside a polling station, any form of political discussion, campaigning or canvassing is strictly prohibited.

This means you cannot debate your vote with friends, families or strangers.

You must also not be accompanied into the polling booth by another adult unless you have a disability, though your children may join you, provided they do not mark the ballot paper.

When and where will votes be counted?

The counting process can begin when the polls close at 10pm.

Counting may take place overnight after the poll has closed or on the following day.

If the count is taking place overnight, election staff will take the sealed ballot boxes from the polling station to the count centre along with the completed paperwork which records how many ballot papers have been issued.

If the count is not taking place overnight then the ballot boxes will be transported to and stored in a secure location until the count begins.

The first indication of how the election has gone on a national level is likely to be the exit polls, which are published shortly after 10pm.

These take place at about 144 polling stations across the country, with tens of thousands of people asked to privately fill in a replica ballot as they leave, to get an indication of how they voted.

Official constituency outcomes are likely to be announced from 11.30pm as early results trickle in.

This will speed up as the night progresses, with hundreds of results expected in the early hours of Friday morning, between 3am and 4am.

By 4am, enough results should be in to know which party is on course to win the election and by what margin.

The Glasgow Times will be covering the count in Glasgow overnight.