General election: Everything you need to know to vote on July 4

People have until midnight on June 18 to register to vote if they are not already registered. This can be done on the government website.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on June 19 and this can be done on the same website.

Postal vote packs will be sent out around 10 days before polling day.

A polling station in Swindon (Image: Newsquest)

Those who wish to vote by post are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

For those not able to post their completed packs back, there is a limit on the number of postal vote packs that can be hand delivered.

An elector can only submit their own and up to five others, and they will be required to fill in an additional form which will be provided to them on arrival.

People can only hand deliver their postal vote packs at County Hall’s reception, or in the polling station on polling day.

Those that post their packs directly into the post boxes at the council’s main offices at Bourne Hill, County Hall or Monkton Park will have their votes rejected.

There is more time for those who want to apply for a proxy vote with the deadline set at 5pm on June 26.

If people are going to be away at that time they may wish to consider applying for a proxy vote, which allows individuals to have somebody vote on their behalf.

Anyone applying for a postal or proxy vote online will need their National Insurance number or an identity document such as a driving license or passport as part of the application process.

The same deadline of 5pm on June 26 applies to those who want to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, which can be used to vote if people do not have a form of photo ID.

This will be the first general election that requires voters to present photo IDs at the polling stations.

Accepted forms include passports, photographic driving licences, biometric immigration documents, and certain concessionary travel passes.

A comprehensive list can be found on the Electoral Commission's website.

Polls will be open from 7am-10pm on July 4 and the results will be confirmed the following day.

Returning officer for Wiltshire, Terence Herbert, said: "A vote in the general election will directly influence who is responsible for making decisions that affect all our daily lives, so I strongly encourage everyone eligible to ensure they are registered.

“Our advice for those wishing to vote by post is to apply as soon as possible, and for everyone going out to vote on election day itself to please remember to bring valid photo ID or I’m afraid you will be politely turned away.

“My team will be working round the clock over the coming weeks to deliver a smooth election for the county and we look forward to welcoming people to the polls on July 4.”

Another change for this general election is to the boundaries.

The constituency people vote in may have changed since the Parliamentary Boundary Review.

Wiltshire now consists of five constituencies. These are Chippenham, East Wiltshire, Melksham and Devizes, Salisbury, and South West Wiltshire.

People have been asked to check their poll card when they receive it to check if the constituency they vote in has changed since 2019 and where they will be voting.

A map showing the new constituencies can be found on the Boundary Commission for England website.