Ways to Vote

In England, Scotland and Wales, at all elections, one can choose whether he or she prefers to vote at a polling station or by post. In addition, if one meets certain legal requirements, one can apply for a proxy vote.

Voting at a polling station

The traditional way to vote in the United Kingdom is to attend one’s local polling station and vote in person. Each voter is allocated to a specific polling station serving the area in which they live. A poll card is sent to each elector, giving the address of the polling station.

Postal and Proxy Voting

Voters who are likely to be away from home at the time of an election – for example on holiday or business – or those who are unable to vote in person at the polling station may apply for a postal o a proxy vote. The latter is a vote cast by a person authorized to vote on behalf of another.

Other methods of voting

Local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland are allowed to apply to conduct electoral pilot schemes to test new methods of voting at local government elections. New methods of voting that have been tried as pilot schemes include:

• E-voting – both using the internet and special kiosks at polling stations or other public places; the UK Government has made a public commitment to running ‘an E-enabled general election sometime after 2006’. This means that electronic voting would be available alongside other voting methods (including voting at a polling station);
• Telephone voting;
• Voting by text messaging from mobile phones;
• Early voting – it is possible to vote before the allocated polling day;
• All postal elections – all voters will vote by post and there will be no polling stations.

TASK 12. Define the following:

* polling district	* postal vote
* polling station	* proxy vote
* secret ballot	* e-voting
* poll card	*early voting

TASK 13. Read the following text and explain the meaning of the phrases given in bold type: