As Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced, the UK is heading for a July election for the first time since 1945 — and many questions are on voters lips.
We take a look at everything you need to know for the upcoming July 4 vote, including how to have your say and if schools will be affected.
Do I need photo ID?
Yes. You will need a government-issued photo ID to vote in the general election on July 4.
You can still use your ID even if it has expired, but the photo on your ID must look like you.
Examples of acceptable IDs include a UK driving licence, a UK passport and a biometric residence permit. A full list of the acceptable IDs can be found here.
Who is eligible to vote?
To vote, you need to be registered to vote and be 18 or over on polling day.
People eligible to vote include UK or Irish citizens, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK, or a qualifying EU citizen living in the UK.
How do I register to vote?
You can register to vote on the UK government website here.
If you are not sure if you’re able to vote, you should contact you should contact the elections team at your local district, borough or combined authority council.
Will schools used as polling stations be closed?
All state-funded schools can have their rooms used as polling stations and schools must comply with requests for use from the returning officer of an election. Your child’s school may well be closed on election day, so be sure to reach out to school administrators to find out ahead of time.
Where do I vote if I'm a student?
Students can register to vote using either their home or term-time addresses.
But if your home and university address are in two different local authority areas, you will need to choose which constituency you want to vote in.
Voting in more than one location is a crime.
If you're not sure if you're already registered to vote, you can check by getting in touch with your local authority.
What do I do if I'm on holiday?
If you will be abroad on polling day you can either apply to vote by post, or apply to have someone else vote on your behalf - this is called voting by proxy.
Government guidance says your proxy should be someone you trust. You’ll need to tell them which candidate you want to vote for. If two, weeks before the election, you know you will not be in the country but have not registered to vote by post, you should apply to vote by proxy.
What’s the current situation in and around Newark?
Newark - The seat is held by Conservative Robert Jenrick, seen by some as a likely leadership contender if the election is lost and Rishi Sunak departs. In 2019 the result was Con 63.3%, Lab 23.4%, Lib Dem 9.69%, Green 3.56%
Sherwood - Conservative Sir Mark Spencer holds the Sherwood seat. In 2019 the result was Con 60.8%, Lab 30.1%, Lib Dem 5.47%, Green 2.3%, others 1.33%. The seat will change slightly and become known as Sherwood Forest.
Who is leading the polls currently?
Labour has been leading in the polls since the start of 2022, and currently has a 21% lead over the Conservatives.
Polling indicates 44% of the public would vote Labour and 23% for Conservatives. The Reform party is currently polling at 11%, the Liberal Democrats at 10% and Greens with 7% support.
In our area, polling suggests Mark Spencer could lose his seat \- while the Tories are expected to cling on to the Newark seat.
When will we know who's won?
Historically, general election results have been confirmed by the morning after polling day. So we should know who has been successful in each parliamentary constituency, and which party has won overall, by July 5.
