How to Vote
To be able to vote you must be on the electoral register. The last date to register for this election is Wednesday 18 April.
To check if you are on the register, contact the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) on 0131 344 2500. The ERO for the Lothian area is based at the Lothian Valuation Joint Board, 17a South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh, EH12 9FL.
- Email: enquiries@lothian-vjb.gov.uk
- Website: www.lothian-vjb.gov.uk
Vote in Person
On the day of the election, go to your local polling station. Polling station opening hours are 7 am – 10 pm. If you need assistance, you can 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. You can show them your poll card, but you do not need it to vote.
The staff at the polling station will give you a ballot paper listing the candidates you can vote for. 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 completed the ballot paper put it in the ballot box (do not fold the ballot paper – the count for this election will be carried out electronically). 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.
Postal and Proxy Votes
Anyone who cannot attend the polling place to cast their vote in person can apply to vote by post or can nominate another person (proxy) to vote on their behalf.
The proxy must be eligible to vote at the election themselves in order to act on behalf of another elector.
Postal and proxy vote application forms are available from Lothian Valuation Joint Board or any East Lothian Council office.
Last day for new postal vote applications is Wednesday 18 April
Last day for amendments to/cancellations of existing postal or proxy vote applications is Wednesday 18 April
Last day for new proxy vote applications (except for medical emergencies) is Wednesday 25 April
Last day for new proxy vote applications on medical emergency grounds is 5 pm, Thursday 3 May (Polling Day)