Bring your ID and have your say as polls open in BCP for the General Election

The polls are now open in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council for residents to vote in the General Election.

A total of 35 candidates are standing in the General Election across the five constituencies which cover the BCP Council area.

Voting will be taking place in 166 polling stations, all of which opened at 7am this morning and will remain open until 10pm this evening.

Residents can find their polling station by visiting: bcpcouncil.gov.uk/pollingstations

To vote at the general election residents should bring an accepted form of photo ID with them to the polling station.

Graham Farrant, BCP Council Acting Returning Officer said: “We want all residents to be able to have their say in the General Election. Please make sure, before you head out to your allocated polling station, that you have the correct form of photo ID with you.”

This is a condition introduced under the UK Government’s Elections Act.

Without an accepted form of photo ID, residents won’t be able to cast their vote at the polling station.

Accepted forms of ID include a passport, driving licence and some bus passes. A full list of accepted ID is available at bcpcouncil.gov.uk/voterID

Residents can also show expired ID, as long as they are still recognisable from the photo.

If a voter turns up at a polling station with no acceptable photo identification, they will not be issued with a ballot paper and will need to return with an accepted form of photo identification in order to vote.

The verification and counting of votes will start following the arrival of the ballot boxes after close of polls at Kings Park Leisure and Learning Centre.

More information of the elections can be found at bcpcouncil.gov.uk/election2024