Yahoo News How to register to vote before tonight's deadline
You must register to vote if you want to take part in the general election on June 8.
If you are eligible to vote, here is an easy guide to getting registered before it's too late.
Countdown to the General Election
Am I eligible to vote?
To vote in the general election you must:
be a British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen
be resident at an address in the UK (or a British citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years)
be 18 or over on June 8
not be legally excluded from voting
How do I register to vote?
In order to register you can visit gov.uk/register-to-vote. You will be asked for you name, address, National Insurance number and whether you want a postal vote. The whole process takes about three minutes.
The deadline to register is MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
If you're already registered to vote or you applied to register to vote before the deadline for the May 4 local elections, you do not need to re-register.
Where can I vote?
You should receive a polling card through the post. The polling card is the easiest way to find out where to vote as it should include the name and address of the polling station for your district.
If you have not received your polling card, you can contact your local authority to find out where to vote. You can find the contact details for your council by visit the About My Vote website.
Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day and you will usually find them in public buildings like local halls or schools.
Do I need my polling card?
No, don't worry if you lose your card.
As long as you're registered on the electoral roll and go into the polling station and give your name and address, you will be able to vote.
How to vote
On election day, go to your local polling station. If you need assistance getting to the polling station, contact your electoral registration office to find out if they can help. You can also ask to have a companion with you when you vote, or staff in the polling station may be able to help you.
Tell the staff inside the polling station your name and address so they can check that you are on the electoral register.
The staff will give you a ballot paper listing the parties and candidates you can vote for. You may be given more than one ballot paper if there is more than one election on the same day. If you have a visual impairment, you can ask for a special voting device that allows you to vote on your own in secret.
Take your ballot paper into a polling booth so that no one can see how you vote. Read the ballot paper carefully, it will tell you how to cast your vote. Do not write anything else on the paper or your vote may not be counted.
Finally, when you have marked your vote, fold the ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box. Do not let anyone see your vote. If you are not clear on what to do, ask the staff at the polling station to help you.
Do I have to vote?
No, not in the UK.
But there are a number of countries around the world where you can be fined for not casting a vote. In Australia you can receive a financial penalty for failing to have you name marked off the electoral roll. You do not have to choose a candidate or a party, but the ballot paper must be "marked".
What if I can't vote that day?
Postal vote: You can submit your selections via postal vote, but you need to apply to vote this way by 5pm on Tuesday May 23.
Proxy vote: If you're unable to go to the polling station in person on election day, you can usually apply to vote by proxy, where someone votes on your behalf. There are different forms depending on the reason why you need a proxy vote, including medical, employment, you're overseas or you've got a disability. The deadline to apply to vote by proxy is 5pm on Wednesday May 31. The deadline for absent vote applications in Northern Ireland is 5pm on Thursday May 18.
Emergency proxy: Where you have an emergency after the above deadline which means you can't go and vote in person on polling day, you can apply for an emergency proxy up to 5pm on the day of the poll.
Why are elections held on Thursdays?
The last time a British election was not held on a Thursday was in 1931 when polling was on a Tuesday – in the midst of the Great Depression.
Thursday is the traditional market day in the UK - when most people are bustling around in their local town.
Election Day | What if Im still queuing to vote at 10pm?
What is being decided?
Elections will be held in all 650 constituencies across the UK. A government will then be formed by whichever party gets the majority of MPs, or a coalition of parties if there is no overall majority achieved.
Why is the election happening?
The Prime Minister says that the only way to "guarantee certainty and stability for the years ahead is to hold this election and seek your support for the decisions I must take".
Key articles | General Election 2017 Register Log in commenting policy
