We wouldn’t presume to tell you who to vote for, but we can bring you essential information on who's standing and how to vote in Thursday's general election, including voter ID requirements and polling station details, so you can have your say in who should represent your constituency and run the country.
• Candidates standing in Southampton Itchen, inc Bitterne Park
• Candidates standing in Southampton Test, inc St Denys & Portswood
• Find your polling station
• Acceptable forms of ID
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By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
Church halls, schools, pubs and even portacabins in car parks will provide the polling station for residents across Southampton in the general election.
Residents can cast their vote for who they want to be their next MP on Thursday, July 4.
Both Southampton Itchen and Southampton Test constituencies will have new representatives, with Labour’s Alan Whitehead and Conservative Royston Smith not seeking re-election.
Where to vote and voting times
Polling stations will open at 7am on Thursday and close at 10pm.
Registered voters will find their polling station listed on their poll card. You do not have to take your polling card with you to vote, but you will need suiable ID.
Photo ID
Everyone voting in person is required to have a suitable form of photo identification.
On polling day, voters must provide their names and addresses to polling staff, who will verify their registration.
Although the poll card can assist with this, showing photo ID is mandatory. Voters preferring to show their ID in private can request to do so.
More information on acceptable forms of ID can be found here.
Casting your vote
Once verified, voters will receive a ballot paper listing the candidates.
In the polling booth, voters should mark a cross next to their chosen candidate and avoid writing anything else to ensure their vote counts.
After voting, fold the ballot paper and place it in the ballot box.
Assistance for voters with disabilities
Polling stations offer aids for voters with disabilities, including a large print sample ballot paper, a magnifying sheet, and a braille voting device for those with visual impairments.
Voters can bring their phones into the booth to use assistive technology such as text-to-speech apps, a magnifier, or a torch. Additionally, a friend or relative may assist with voting, but this must be recorded by polling staff. Alternatively, the presiding officer can mark the ballot paper upon request.
Accessibility at polling stations
Polling stations are accessible, with each booth having a wheelchair-accessible compartment. If physical disabilities prevent access to the polling station, the presiding officer can bring the ballot paper to the voter.
Prohibited items and activity
Photography is not permitted inside polling stations including selfies and social media posts.
Pets, except for assistance dogs, are not normally permitted inside polling stations.
Where are polling stations in Southampton?
The full list of polling stations for the two Southampton constituencies was published on the city council’s website along with the candidates standing in the election.
Residents will find their designated polling station, where they have to go to vote in-person on Thursday, on their polling card. Information can also be found on Southampton City Council’s website.
Southampton Itchen
Central Hall, St Mary Street
Stella Maris House, 48A Bugle Street
James Street Church Hall, James Street
The Royal British Legion Club, Windover Close
St Christopher’s Church Hall, Pepys Avenue
Kanes Hill Primary School, Hinkler Road
The Phoenix Cafe, Highpoint Venue, Bursledon Road
Itchen South Scout Group HQ, Stanford Court, Sullivan Road
Bitterne Park Baptist Church Hall, Wellington Road
Portacabin at, Riverside Car Park No.2, Woodmill Lane
Townhill Park Community Centre, Meggeson Avenue
The Ascension Centre, 1 Thorold Road
Bitterne Manor Community Centre, Vespasian Road
Bitterne Park URC Hall, Cobden Avenue
Moorlands Community Centre, Townhill Way
Portacabin at Macarthur Crescent Play Area
Glenfield Infant School, Rossington Way/Glenfield Crescent
Bitterne Library, Bitterne Road East
Bitterne Sports Ground Pavilion, Wynter Road
Meon Court, Off Minstead Avenue
Holy Saviour Church, Bursledon Road
Portacabin at junction Peartree Avenue/Freemantle Common Road
Merryoak Neighbourhood Community Centre, Acacia Road
Peartree URC Hall, Bridge Road
Woolston Methodist Church, Manor Road North
Spring Road Evangelical Church, Spring Road
Sholing Junior School, Middle Road
Southampton Amateur Boxing Club, North East Road
Salvation Army Hall, North East Road
St Mary’s Parish Centre, St. Monica Road
Sholing Community Centre, Butts Road
Oasis Academy Mayfield, The Grove
St Patrick’s RC Church, Junction of Portsmouth Road/Manor Road South
Woolston Community Centre, Church Road
Weston Church Hall, Weston Lane
The Scout HQ, Tickleford Drive
Weston Court, Kingsclere Avenue
Woolston Community Centre, Church Road
Central Baptist Church Hall, Devonshire Road
Southampton Test
The Concourse at Avenue St. Andrews URC, The Avenue
Bevois Town Primary School, Cedar Road
Northam Community Centre, Kent Street
Newtown Youth Centre, Graham Road
Lighthouse Church, St. Marys Road
Zoe Braithwaite Centre, Fraser Close
Lordswood Community Centre, Sandpiper Road
St Vincent De Paul RC Church, Coxford Road
Lordshill Community Centre, Cromarty Road
Kinloss Court, Northolt Gardens
Scout HQ, Aldermoor Road
Coxford Community Centre, Olive Road
Freemantle Evangelical Church Hall, Nelson Road
Freemantle Community Centre, Randolph Street
Elim Christian Centre, Park Road
Freemantle Baptist Church, Testwood Road
Test Guide Centre, Timsbury Drive
Toronto Court, Brendon Green
Salvation Army Hall, Victor Street
22nd Southampton City Scout Group HQ, Whitehouse Gardens
Newlands Primary School, Windermere Avenue, Millbrook
Highfield Church Centre, Highfield Lane
Portswood Library, 251 Portswood Road
Scouts HQ, Brickfield Road
Portswood Library, 251 Portswood Road
St Denys Church Centre, Dundee Road
Newfields Gardening CIC, Nutfield Court, Off Lower Brownhill Road
Colne Avenue Baptist Church, Colne Avenue
Testlands Hub (Formerly Millbrook Secondary School), Green Lane
All Saints Church Hall, Kendal Avenue
Newlands Primary School, Windermere Avenue, Millbrook
The Ship Inn, 41 Old Redbridge Road
Shirley Warren Baptist Church, Warren Crescent
Isaac Watts Church Hall, Luccombe Road
Salvation Army Hall, Victor Street
Shirley Parish Hall, St. James Road
St James Road Methodist Church Hall, St. James Road
Scouts HQ, Brickfield Road, Southampton
Banister Primary School, Archers Road
Seventh Day Adventist Church Hall, Shirley Road
Edmund Kell Unitarian Church Hall, Bellevue Road
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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