Residents urged to prepare to vote following UK Parliament Election announcement

Eligible voters in Renfrewshire are being asked to prepare to cast their vote at the UK Parliament General Election on Thursday 4 July 2024.  

Anyone who has never voted before, has moved house, or changed their name recently, needs to register to vote by 18 June 2024.  

There are a number of ways to vote in the upcoming election. Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on 4 July polling day to vote in person.  

Any eligible voters unable to attend their polling station to vote on the day can apply for a proxy vote or postal vote. A proxy vote is when you nominate someone you trust to vote for you.  

If your proxy can’t get to the polling station, they can apply to vote on your behalf by post. This is called a postal proxy vote. 

Requests for postal proxy votes and new applications or changes to postal votes must be submitted by 5pm on Wednesday 19 June 2024. Voters wishing to register for a proxy vote must submit their applications by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024. 

For the first time in Renfrewshire, voters will be required to show photo identification at their polling station to vote for an MP. Accepted forms of ID include passports, driving licences, provisional driving licences, Scottish National Entitlement card, and Young Scot card with a PASS mark. A more detailed list of accepted forms of identification is available on the Renfrewshire Council website. 

Anyone who does not have an accepted form of identification can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate before 5pm on 26 June 2024 . Paper applications are also available at the Electoral Registration Office in Paisley.  

Alan Russell, Returning Officer and Renfrewshire Council Chief Executive said: “It’s important that anyone wishing to vote in the forthcoming election on 4 July is registered to vote and I would encourage everyone to double check their poll letter when they receive it in the coming weeks.  

“With the election taking place over the summer period, for those that may be away on polling day, people will wish to be aware of the key dates for proxy and postal votes,  so please ensure you are aware of the deadlines and apply as soon as possible to guarantee everything is in place to allow you to cast your vote.   

“If you’re voting in person, you will need identification for the first time in Renfrewshire when voting for an MP, so please ensure you bring an accepted piece of ID with you on polling day. If you don’t have one, please apply for a free voter identification certificate as early as you can and before the 26 June deadline.”  

Voting will take place on Thursday 4 July 2024 between 7am and 10pm, with the count taking place immediately after the election concludes at the Lagoon Leisure Centre in Paisley.  

There are two constituencies being contested in Renfrewshire, Paisley and Renfrewshire North and Paisley and Renfrewshire South.  

Following a review by the Boundary Commission, six new polling places in Cardonald are now part of the Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency.  

Following the boundary changes voters from Bridge of Weir and Houston are now part of the Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West constituency administered by Inverclyde Council, but there is no change to their polling stations.  

To find out more about how to vote in the upcoming UK General Election and the accepted forms of voter identification please visit the council website at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/general-election-2024.