X marks the spot in UK General Election 2024

Published: 12 June 2024

Residents who are eligible to vote in next month's General Election are reminded to use an 'X' to cast their vote.

The poll will be held on Thursday 4 July 2024, when voters will make their choice on which candidate they wish to represent the East Renfrewshire constituency within the UK Parliament.

Nine candidates are competing for the East Renfrewshire seat. A full list of those vying to be elected as an MP can be seen on the Council's website.

East Renfrewshire's Returning Officer, Steven Quinn, said: 'Make your vote count by marking your paper with an 'X'. We want to make sure everyone's vote counts, whether they are voting by post, by proxy or in person at a polling place on 4 July.'

When filling in your postal vote make sure you put in the correct date of birth and signature on your postal voting statement. Your ballot paper will not be counted if there is a mistake in it. Applications for postal votes and postal proxy votes can be made up until Wednesday 19 June at 5pm.

Polling stations will be open on 4 July from 7am to 10pm for those voting in person.

Residents who cannot make it to their polling station on election day are reminded that they can appoint a proxy up until Wednesday 26 June at 5pm, which allows someone else to vote on your behalf.

A total of 24 polling places will be used across East Renfrewshire, with the majority remaining the same as have been used for previous General Elections.

In two changes, Carlibar Primary School will no longer be used, with the polling place now switched to Dunterlie Community Centre. And Carmichael Hall is being used instead of St Ninian's High School. Details of which polling station to attend are printed on your polling letter.

Residents preparing to vote in person at the General Election are also reminded that they now need to show photo ID before being issued with a ballot paper. The new legal requirement means that an original version of accepted ID must be produced before being allowed to vote at polling places on Thursday 4 July.

Accepted forms of ID include a passport, driving licence (including provisional), Scottish National Entitlement Card, Blue Badge, Identity Card with PASS mark, biometric immigration document, defence identity card, and some national identity cards. You can still use your photo ID if it's out of date, as long as it looks like you. A full list of accepted ID can be found at electoralcommission.org.uk.

In another change since the last General Election, the traditional poll card which was historically an A5 piece of card is now an A4 letter enclosed in a clearly marked envelope. It remains the case that your poll letter is not required to vote and it cannot be used as voter ID.

Visit eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/elections-and-voting for more information on voting.