Voters in Cotswold District who are intending to cast their EU Referendum vote at a polling station on Thursday, June 23, are being advised to plan ahead.

There are 117 polling stations in the Cotswolds and they will all be open from 7am-10pm. Voters who arrive at a polling station after 10pm will not be allowed to cast their vote.

Sarah Dalby, Eelectoral services manager at Cotswold District Council, said: "Putting a cross in a box might seem simple, but there are plenty of things voters need to consider in order to be 'referendum ready."

- Plan what time you will cast your vote at the polling station, leaving plenty of time before the 10pm deadline.

- Your poll card (which should have been sent to you in the post) will tell you the location of your polling station, and you will find more information on how to take part at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk(opens in a new window)

- Take your poll card with you to your polling station. Although it’s not compulsory to do this, it will speed up the process in the polling station.

- If voting by post, make sure that you send your postal pack back in plenty of time as postal votes that arrive after 10pm on 23 June will not be counted. If you forget to send your postal pack back then you can hand it in at any polling station in the Cotswold District Council area on polling day

- Mark your ballot paper with one ‘X’ only in the box beside your choice.

Sarah continues: “I encourage Cotswold residents to give some thought to the time they want to arrive at the polling station on 23 June. Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm and the busiest time is usually in the late afternoon – when parents come with their children after school - and early evening when people come to vote after work. Voters who can be flexible, may want to avoid those peak times.”

"If anyone has misplaced their poll card, or are unsure where their polling station is, please contact 01285 623002 or email elections@cotswold.gov.uk for further information.” 

Further information on how to vote is available on the Electoral Commission’s website at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or on 0800 3 280 280.