Tower Hamlets Polling Station
On Thursday 2 May voters across London will go to the polls to elect the Mayor of London, 14 members of the London Assembly, that represent London’s 14 Constituencies, and 11 Assembly Members who will represent the whole of London.
Voting takes place between 7am and 10pm and the results announced on Saturday 4 May. This year London’s elections will be different in two key ways.
Firstly, all voters will need to take an approved form of photo identification to the polling station to vote. Secondly, there will only be one vote to cast for the Mayor of London, (called the first-past-the-post system). In the past there has been a first and second preference vote for the Mayor of London (called the supplementary vote).
In addition, applications can be made to vote by post online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote and applications to vote by proxy can be made at www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.
Eligible electors will be sent poll card letters ahead of the election which will let you know where your polling station is with a brief explanation of Voter ID.
If you misplace your poll card letter, you can check the polling station finder at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/elections which includes extra information such as the election timetable, and how to apply to register to vote.
You need to provide voter ID to vote at polling stations
Voters are now legally required to show approved photographic ID at a polling station to verify their identity before voting.
This includes the forthcoming Mayor of London and London Assembly elections on Thursday 2 May.
Accepted approved forms of photo ID include, but are not limited to:
- A passport issued in the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state, or a Commonwealth country.
- A driving licence issued in the UK, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state.
- Some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card.
- An identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a ‘PASS’ card).
Voters do not need to show photo ID to vote by post or proxy. Anyone acting as a proxy to vote on someone’s behalf will need to show their own photo ID at the polling station.
If you don't have any of the approved photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document known as a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) at www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.
To apply for a VAC, you must be registered to vote, provide a photograph, and may need to provide identification before a Voter Authority Certificate will be issued.
You can register to vote at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
The last day to apply to register to vote at the 2 May is Tuesday 16 April 2024.
There is more information on voter ID, including a full list of accepted ID at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID or call the Commission helpline on 0800 328 0280.
Keep up to date
You can keep up to date on key information relating to the 2 May GLA elections on the dedicated area on the council’s website.
There are three different 'contests' that make up GLA elections with three different ballot papers for voters:
- the Mayor of London
- the 14 Members of the London Assembly that represent London’s 14 Constituencies
- the 11 Assembly Members that represent the whole of London (London-wide Members).
The Greater London Returning Officer (GLRO) is responsible for overseeing the three contests, including the preparations for the poll and the counting of the votes.
Tower Hamlets is part of the City and East Constituency which is the responsibility of the Constituency Returning Officer (CRO) at Newham with Tower Hamlets Chief Executive Stephen Halsey acting as Borough Returning Officer (BRO).
You can read more about these roles and responsibilities, and view all the statutory notices for the Mayor and London assembly as well as the Constituency Assembly Members on the council’s GLA election webpage. The webpages will be further updated as the timetable leading up to the polls progresses.
Posted on Wednesday 27th March 2024