Frequently Asked Questions
What is happening on Thursday 4 July 2024?
In the UK Parliamentary General Election on Thursday 4 July registered voters in Tower Hamlets can vote for a Member of Parliament (MP) in one of three constituencies:
- Poplar and Limehouse
- Bethnal Green and Stepney
- Stratford and Bow.
Stratford and Bow is a new constituency, which crosses the border with Newham. Newham’s Acting Returning Officer supported by Newham Council is responsible for the running of the election in the Stratford and Bow constituency.
The other two constituencies are totally within the borders of Tower Hamlets. The Tower Hamlets Acting Returning Officer is responsible for those two constituencies, supported by the Tower Hamlets Electoral Services team and other council teams.
How can I vote in the General Elections on Thursday 4 July?
Registered voters will be able to vote in person at their designated local polling station between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 4 July 2024. All voters will need to bring an accepted form of photo ID to vote in person at a polling station. Find out more at on the Electoral Commission website.
How is my Member of Parliament (MP) elected?
You vote for your Member of Parliament using the ballot paper you will be given at the polling station. Mark a cross next the candidate of your choice. You have one choice as it’s a first-past-the-post system. The candidate with the highest number of votes will become the elected MP for their constituency.
Who are the candidates standing to be MP?
You can see the full list of candidates standing for the Bethnal Green and Stepney and the Poplar and Limehouse constituencies via the statement of persons nominated documents on the official election notices page.
You can view the list of candidates standing in the Stratford and Bow constituency on the Newham Council elections webpage.
How are the votes counted and results announced?
Following the close of polls at 10pm on Thursday 4 July ballot boxes for each of the Parliamentary constituency contests will be securely transferred to the London Excel Centre where they will be verified and then counted.
The relevant ballot boxes for the Stratford and Bow constituency will be managed by Newham Council and will be counted by the Newham elections team, also based at the Excel.
Votes will be counted manually and the results for each of the constituencies will be announced by the relevant Returning Officer or Acting Returning Officer.
Tower Hamlets Council will be sharing the outcome of the votes for each of the three constituencies via their social media channels, website and a media release.
What ID do I need to vote in the elections?
The law has changed, and all voters need to bring an acceptable form of photo ID to vote in person at a polling station. Find out more about which forms of photo ID can be used.
Can I show my photo ID to the polling station officers in a private area?
Yes. There will be private areas available with mirrors at all polling stations, and you can also request that you to show your photo ID to someone from the same sex.
I've seen electoral fraud/malpractice
Reports of electoral malpractice are taken extremely seriously in Tower Hamlets. There is a Police presence at every polling place and reports of electoral malpractice can be made via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, by calling the police on 101 or via our web portal.
Am I allowed to bring my dog to a polling station?
Dogs are welcome to accompany their owners to vote but must be kept under control at all times.
I’m a wheelchair user/have a disability, can I access support at my polling station?
Yes, each polling station has been chosen with access for wheelchair users and mobility needs in mind, and there will be advice and support for voters with disabilities and their carers.
Polling station staff will be on hand to support you with additional needs requests. Find out more at the ‘asking for help’ section.
Can I bring my own pen to vote?
Yes. Pencils are provided at polling stations, but you can use your own pen.
Polling station opening times/finding your polling station
All polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm. Your poll card will have the location of your polling station or use the station locator to find out where yours is.
Do I need my polling card to vote?
You don't need your poll card to vote. If you’re registered to vote, but don't have your poll card, you simply go to the polling station and give them your name and address. But you must vote at your assigned polling station. Use the station locator to find out where yours is.
I have a concern about long queues at polling stations near to polls closing at 10pm and I don’t want to lose my vote
Polling stations are open until 10pm and everyone eligible to vote who is in the queue by 10pm will be able to vote.
I have an urgent enquiry and need to contact the electoral services team. Who can help me?
Check the elections and voting section for answers to your query or call the electoral services team on 020 7364 0872. You can also email vote@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
I registered for a postal vote but I never received it?
Please contact the electoral services team on 020 7364 0872.
I’m registered for a postal vote, but can I vote in person instead? / I forgot to post my ballot?
If you have already received your ballot paper in the post, you can only use this to cast your vote and you cannot vote in the polling station. If you haven’t returned your postal vote yet, you can still drop it off at a polling station or at the Town Hall before 10pm. You will need to complete a form though when dropping your postal vote off.
I posted my ballot paper yesterday (the day before polling day). Will it be counted?
For your vote to be counted, postal ballot papers need to be received by the Acting Returning Officer before 10pm on polling day.
People are canvassing over the exclusion zone – what can I do?
Campaigners can canvass voters on polling day, including in public spaces outside polling places. Polling station staff and police officers should not seek to discourage or remove campaigners who are otherwise peacefully communicating with voters, provided they are not within or impeding access to the confines of the polling place.
Campaigners should keep access to polling places and the pavements around polling places clear to allow voters to enter and leave. The Presiding Officer is responsible for maintaining order in the polling place, and you may be asked to move by polling station staff or police officers if it is considered that you are impeding access to a polling place.
Exclusion zone markers are not prescribed in law so provided campaigners are acting peacefully the Acting Returning Officer, his staff or the Police have no authority to move people on. Campaigners cannot enter the polling station to canvass. If the Police believe that campaigners are committing any act to intimidate electors they may act to prevent this occurring.
To respond to messages which need technical support from Electoral Services
Call the Electoral Services team on 020 7364 0872 who can investigate this for you.
What has Tower Hamlets Council done to raise awareness of the elections to be held on Thursday 4 July 2024
We’ve been working closely with the Electoral Commission to promote their messages about the election and recent changes to the law, such as the requirement to have Voter ID. These messages have been circulated widely using our engagement channels and include amplifying Electoral Commission and other key partners such as the gov.uk social media channel.
Some examples of the work to promote elections taking place include information provided in Our East End newspaper, weekly reminders in our e-newsletters, website updates, regular social media messages, on street advertising, direct mailings to eligible voters and information leaflets with translated text.
What measures do you have in place to prevent electoral fraud in Tower Hamlets?
Electoral malpractice is taken extremely seriously in Tower Hamlets. As well as the standard checks and controls in place at elections, Tower Hamlets takes extra steps to ensure elections are free, fair and transparent.
We work closely with the Electoral Commission and the Metropolitan Police to ensure that the planning and the running of the election is to the highest standard.
The police have a presence at every polling place across the borough on polling day and at the count. Polling places have an exclusion zone directly outside in which no campaigning can take place.
Signage is translated to ensure that voters are aware of the election rules relating to the secrecy of the vote in the polling stations.
Voting booths are also equipped with privacy barriers to assist with the secrecy of the ballot.
Staff are trained to ensure no undue pressure or influence is placed on any voter when casting their vote.
Between polling day and the beginning of the verification and the count, the secured ballot boxes are constantly monitored and kept under constant surveillance.
Tower Hamlets has a web portal where residents can report concerns they have of suspected electoral malpractice.