General Election - 4 July 2024
An election is to be held for a Member of Parliament to serve the Orkney and Shetland Constituency.
The poll will take place on Thursday 4 July 2024.
Postal Voting Update on 28 June 2024
We are aware of a small number of voters who are still waiting to receive their packs. We are assured that local delivery staff are working hard to prioritise and deliver packs as quickly as possible, but if any of these postal voters have not received their postal vote pack by Monday 1 July, they should contact the local elections office.
Lost or undelivered postal votes can be replaced by the Returning Officer – with replacement packs available from 1 July. Voters can attend the Council Offices in Kirkwall and Lerwick with ID for a pack to be reissued.
We want everyone entitled to vote to have their vote counted. We would encourage all those with a postal vote to complete and return this as soon as possible - remembering that any votes returned to Council offices or at a polling station must be accompanied by a postal vote return form or they will be rejected and not counted.
Ways to vote
There are three ways to vote! You can vote in person, by post or by proxy. Visit the Electoral Commission website to find out more.
Accessibility and elections
Everyone should be able to register and vote without facing barriers. They should be able to vote independently (on their own) and in secret.
At our polling stations we have provisions in place to make them more accessible. For example:
- large print ballot paper samples
- tactile voting devices
- assistance by companions or the Presiding Officer
- alternative accessible routes into a polling station
We can provide support at our polling stations around:
- Hearing loss/deafness
- Speech disorder
- Visual impairment
- Requirements for a quiet areas
If you need help you can ask us:
- to show you a large print ballot paper
- to read out the candidates on the ballot paper
- for help to mark the ballot paper with your decision
- for a tactile voting device
Please tell us if:
- You need us to repeat anything
- You need to use a chair
- You need help in the polling booth
- You need to stay with the person who is helping you
