Where to vote this general election 2024

With many in our town gearing up to vote today Thursday July 4 for the 2024 general election, it is crucial that we know where to post our ballot and what to expect on arrival.

For residents of Reading, you can find your nearest polling station here. 

In order to vote you have to have registered beforehand and if you did so you MUST bring a form of ID to the polling station.

You can use any of the following:

Passport

Driving licence (including provisional license)

Blue badge

Certain concessionary travel cards

Identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)

Biometric Immigration document

Defence identity card

Certain national identity cards

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm.

Please be aware that your polling station and ward name may have changed. Reading borough Council asks you to ensure you check the information on your poll card so that you know where to vote on election day.

You can only vote at your designated polling station and you don’t need your poll card to vote.

If you don’t have your poll card, you can go to the polling station and give them your name and address. You must remember to take your photo ID with you.

If you cannot get to your local polling station on the day of an election, you can vote by post or apply for a proxy vote. A proxy vote means someone else will be able to cast your vote on your behalf.

Postal vote applications will only be valid for a maximum 3 year period. After this period you will have to re-apply. The Electoral Services Team will write to you about this prior to your absent vote expiring.

Polling station staff will be on hand to greet you and invite you in as soon as polls open at 7am.

Once you have shown the polling station staff your photo ID document.  The staff will give you a ballot paper listing who you can vote for.

Take your ballot paper into a polling booth. There will be a shelf for you to lean and write on. Use your own pencil or pen, or if you forgot to bring one, ask the poll clerks for one.

Once you’re done, fold your completed ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box. This will be on the desk beside the polling station staff.