Britain · 06 May, 2026 · 2 min read
UK Polling Station Rules For 7 May Elections: Photo ID, Pens, And No Political Discussion
England requires voters to present photo ID to vote in person. Pens may be brought; pencils are provided for marking ballots in polling stations.
Whether to use pens vs pencils and fraud risk.
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Same story, two versions
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One framing reduces tampering fears; another addresses concerns about erasability.
Rules for voting
In the UK, polling stations for the elections on Thursday 7 May open at 07:00 BST and close at 22:00, and voters can vote after 22:00 if they were already in the queue at that point.
“Polling stations are open between 07:00 BST and 22:00.”
Voters do not need to take a polling card with them, but it might speed up the process, and they can only vote at their local polling station.
In England, voters need to take valid photo ID to vote in person, while voters do not need ID for the Scottish Parliament or Senedd elections.
Writing implements are provided, but voters can bring their own pen or pencil if they wish, and political discussion is banned inside polling stations.
What you can’t do
The BBC says you are not allowed to take photos inside a polling station because the Electoral Commission says it risks the secrecy of the ballot.
It also states that the punishment for revealing how someone else voted—even accidentally—is a fine of up to £5,000, or six months in prison.
The Electoral Commission’s guidance is echoed in Full Fact’s fact check, which says “there’s no reason to be concerned” about vote tampering if you vote in pencil.F
Full Fact also reports the Electoral Commission warning that using a pen could potentially “cause your vote to get thrown out” if wet ink smudges and makes a vote unclear.F
Eligibility and practicalities
In Scotland and Wales, the i Paper says you won’t need to show ID to vote, and it adds that children are allowed into the polling station with you as long as they shouldn’t write on your ballot paper.
“In Scotland and Wales, you won’t need to show ID to vote.”
The i Paper also says pets usually have to be left outside, except assistance dogs, and it notes that polling station staff can help you with voting.
In England, the Manchester Evening News says voters must present a valid form of photo identification to cast their ballot in person, and it specifies that only the original document is accepted, not a photocopy or a digital image on your phone.
The Daily Echo’s Hampshire guidance similarly says polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday, May 7, and that you may still vote after 10pm if you were already in the queue before the closing time.