Information for voters

Hedge End South Borough Ward by-election - Thursday 30 July 2026

If you are registered to vote by post, you will receive a postal vote pack containing a WHITE coloured ballot paper.

Are you registered to vote?

To be able to vote in these elections, you must be:

  • registered to vote;
  • have suitable photo ID (see accepted forms of ID)
  • 18 or over on 30 July 2026; and
  • a UK, Irish, EU or qualifying Commonwealth citizen.

Updating your details

If you have moved home recently and have not registered to vote at your new address, you must do so by 11:59pm on Tuesday 14 July to be able to vote in this election. 

If you change your name, you can either register again or email [email protected].

If you have registered to vote at your property and have not moved since, you do not need to re-register to vote.

Please note you will need to provide your National Insurance number when you register.

Register to vote

Polling stations

There will be four polling stations open from 7am-10pm in the Hedge End South ward and all registered voters will be issued with a poll card. Please read the information contained on the poll card for information about your polling station and the photo ID you will need to bring with you to vote on election day.

Health and safety measures at polling stations

The Returning Officer will closely follow any guidance issued nationally and we will put measures in place to ensure polling stations are safe places to vote.

Photo ID required to vote at polling stations

To be able to vote at a polling station, you must show a suitable form of photographic ID. The most commonly used ID include:

  • Passport issued by the UK, an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or a Commonwealth country
  • Photographic driver’s licence issued by the UK, an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands
  • National identity card issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
  • Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
  • a PASS card (National Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
  • Blue Badge
  • a Defence Identity Card (MOD form 90)
  • HM Armed Forces Veteran Card
  • Oyster 60+ Card
  • Concessionary travel pass funded by HM Government or local authority (such as Hampshire County Council Bus Pass; Disabled Person's Bus Pass, Welsh or Northern Ireland travel card).

Only original documents are accepted; scanned images or copies will not be accepted however expired documents are accepted if the photo is still a current likeness.

If you don't have an accepted form of photo ID

If you do not have any of the accepted photo ID, or your ID no longer looks like you, you will need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC). This is a free photographic identification document specifically for the purposes of voting. You must be registered to vote to use this service.The deadline to apply for a VAC is 5pm on Wednesday 22 July 2026.

Please note, you do not need to apply for a VAC if you are voting by post. Identification is only required if you intend to vote in person at a polling station.

Voters who do not produce a Voter Authority Certificates, or valid ID will not be allowed to vote on the day.

Your poll card will be issued around Thursday 25 June. Acceptable forms of identification will be listed on your poll card.

Accessibility at polling stations

If you are a disabled voter or require additional help, we offer a range of support to enable you to vote independently or with assistance.

Postal votes

If you would prefer to vote by post, please complete an online postal vote application form by 5pm on Wednesday 15 July 2026.

Please apply as early as possible to allow time for your application to be processed and for the postal vote to be issued.

You do not need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate if you are voting by post.

If you are registered as a postal voter but would like to vote in person, you will need to cancel your postal vote before you can vote in person at a polling station. The deadline to cancel an existing postal vote is 5pm on Wednesday 15 July 2026.

Postal votes will be issued around Friday 17 July.

Voting by Proxy

If you find that you won't be able to get to the polling station on polling day, and you have missed the deadline to apply for a postal vote (Wednesday 15 July), you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote for you. This is called a proxy vote and you must complete an application form by 5pm on Wednesday 22 July.

Please note that your proxy will need to vote at the polling station where you would have had to vote yourself.

Counting of votes

The verification and counting of votes will be held after the close of poll at 10pm on Thursday 30 July at Eastleigh House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh SO50 9NL. Entry to the Count will only be available to staff, candidates and agents.