Voting for the next Westminster election will take place on Thursday July 4. While some people will have already voted by post, for most of us that means heading to a polling station to vote in person.

And with the election taking place during the working week, it’s important to plan ahead to make sure you can make it to the polling station in time.

When do the polls open?

Polling stations will open from 7am on Thursday morning and will remain open until 10pm that night.

If you are queuing at your polling station by 10pm but still haven’t voted, don’t worry – you will still be able to cast your vote.

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However, you will not be able to join the queue after 10pm.

Where is my polling station?

Everyone will have been allocated a polling station in advance – you can find this information on your poll card which will have been sent to you before the election.

Polling stations are usually at a nearby school or hall but remember to double check where your station is before heading out to vote.

Can I still vote by post or proxy?

Applications for postal and proxy votes have already closed.

This means that if you have not already applied for a postal or proxy vote, you will need to attend your polling station to vote in person on Thursday 4 July.

For those who have been issued a postal vote, these must be returned to the Electoral Office by 10pm on 4 July in order to be counted.

If you have missed the last post to ensure it is delivered on time, these can be returned to the Electoral Office in person at 15 Church Street, Belfast, BT1 1ER.