UK Parliament Election

At UK parliamentary elections in the UK, you must now show photographic ID to vote in person at a polling station. For more information go to our Voter ID – UK Parliament Election webpage.

If you do not have an accepted form of ID, you can apply for a free voter authority certificate, but you must do this by 5pm on Wednesday 26th June 2024.

Visit the Government's Apply for photo ID to vote  - voter authority certificate page.

You can vote in the UK Parliamentary election on Thursday 4th July 2024 if you’re registered to vote and are:

• aged 18 or over on polling day
• a British citizen, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen
• not subject to any legal incapacity to vote

If your name is not on the register, you will not be able to vote.

The last date to apply to be registered for this election is Tuesday 18th June 2024.

You can register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. You will need your national insurance number.

Alternatively, you can contact the electoral registration officer in Fife.

If you live in Clackmannanshire you will need to contact the electoral registration officer for Clackmannanshire.

The counting of votes cast for all four constituencies for the UK Parliamentary election was held in the Michael Wood Centre, Glenrothes on the evening of Thursday 4th July 2024.

If you wish to stand for election, you can download a nomination pack and the Returning Officer’s local guidance notes below:

• Nomination Pack
• Appointment of Polling Agents and Counting Agents Form
• Appointment of Postal Voting Agent Form
• Register Request Form
• Absent Voters List Request Form
• Local guidance notes

Alternatively, you can collect a paper nomination pack from the election office at Fife House, North Street, Glenrothes, KY7 5LT.

Nominations will be accepted by the Returning Officer between 10am and 4pm on any working day from Tuesday 4 June 2024.  Nomination papers must be returned by hand to the Election Office, Fife House, North Street, Glenrothes, KY7 5LT. Nominations papers submitted by email or fax will not be accepted.

Candidates are encouraged to make an appointment to submit their nomination papers so that they can be checked prior to formal submission.

The deadline for submission of nomination papers is 4pm on Friday 7th June 2024.

The Returning Officer will hold a virtual meeting after the close of nominations with all nominated candidates and their agents on Friday 14th June 2024 to discuss local arrangements for holding the poll. Invitations will be issued to all candidates and election agents after the close of nominations.

Returning Officer & Election Team Privacy Notice

Security information for potential candidates

The UK government has issued a joint video regarding the safety and security of candidates for the forthcoming elections. You can view this below. It highlights where you can access relevant security advice and guidance that may be helpful to you during an election and beyond.

The last day to apply for a new postal or postal proxy vote, or to change or cancel an existing postal or proxy vote for the UK Parliamentary elections, was 5pm on Wednesday 19th June 2024.

The last day to apply for a new proxy vote was 5pm on Wednesday 26th June 2024.

For more information on how to apply for a postal or proxy vote visit our vote by post or proxy pages.

You and your appointed proxy must be registered individually to vote to apply.

If you intend to be away in the run up to the UK Parliamentary elections and cannot get to a polling station in person please contact the electoral registration officer who will be able to give you further guidance on the voting options available to you.

If you live in Clackmannanshire you will need to contact the electoral registration officer for Clackmannanshire.

The first despatch of postal votes for the UK Parliamentary elections for all four Fife constituencies was Wednesday 19thj June 2024 (for any elector who has an existing postal vote or has applied for and been granted a postal vote by Friday 7th June). For anyone applying for a postal vote after this date, they received their postal vote in the 2^nd despatch of postal votes on Wednesday 26th June 2024.

Once you've received your postal pack, read the enclosed instructions, mark your vote on the ballot paper, complete the postal voting statement and put these in the envelopes provided.

You need to make sure you send your completed pack back as soon as possible and by no later than 10pm on Thursday 4th July 2024.

If it arrives later than this, your vote won't be counted.

Handling Postal Votes

If you aren’t able to post your postal vote in time, you can take it to your polling station or hand it into the Returning Officer at Fife House, North Street, Glenrothes, KY7 5LT.

You will be only able to hand in your own postal vote, and the postal votes of up to five other people. You will also be required to complete a Postal Vote Return Form when handing in your postal vote(s) to a polling station or the Returning Officer. Please do not hand over postal votes without completing this form or your postal vote(s) will be rejected.

Campaigners can only hand in their own postal vote, and postal votes for up to five other people that are either close relatives or someone they provide regular care for.

Lost or Spoilt postal packs

If you lose or spoilt part of your postal pack after you receive it, you should call the election helpline on 03451 55 55 22 straightaway for guidance on how to obtain a replacement. Do not destroy your original pack if it was spoilt as you will need to return all of this to us.

The rules for handing in completed postal votes has changed. If you do not intend to return your postal vote via Royal Mail, you must read the guidance below.

Handing in postal votes at the polling station

There is now a limit on the number of postal votes you can hand in at a polling station. You can only hand in a maximum of five postal ballot packs for other electors plus your own.

Where the individual has been appointed as a proxy postal for another elector, handing in the proxy postal would count towards one of the five for other electors.

If an individual hands in more than five postal ballot packs for other electors, all the postal votes (other than their own) will be rejected.

If there is reason to suspect that a person has already handed in the maximum number of postal votes on any previous occasion at the election, any subsequent postal votes handed in will be rejected.

Completion of Postal Vote Return Form

Anyone handing in postal votes must complete a postal vote return form. The individual handing in the postal vote(s) will need to complete the form with their name, address, and the reason for handing in other people’s postal votes (where appropriate).

They will also need to complete a declaration that they are not handing in more than the permitted number, and that they are not a political campaigner.

If the form is not completed in full with all the required information, the postal vote(s) will be rejected. Rejected postal votes will not be included in the count.

After the election, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) will write to electors who have had their postal votes rejected, telling them why.

Handing in postal votes to the Returning Officer

Electors sometimes hand postal votes in directly to the Returning Officer in advance of the election, and on polling day itself. The same restrictions, limits, and requirement to complete a form which apply at polling stations, also applies to postal votes handed to the Returning Officer or at council offices.

For the UK Parliament election on Thursday 4th July 2024, The Returning Officer will only accept postal votes handed in personally at Fife House, North Street, Glenrothes, KY7 5LT.

Postal votes handed in at any other council office will not be accepted as there will be no authorised staff present to provide and sign the postal vote return form.

Any postal votes which are left at any council building without the postal vote return form being completed will be rejected.

The Returning Officer also cannot accept any postal votes which are left in any council mailbox, or which are put into the Council’s internal mail system without the relevant form being completed.

Postal votes which are ‘left behind’

Postal votes will not be accepted if they are simply left at a polling station or a council office.

If a person hands in postal votes without completing the return of postal vote documents form, the ‘left behind’ postal votes must be rejected.

After the election, the ERO will write to electors who have had their postal vote rejected because they were left behind.

Handing in your postal vote(s) to Fife House

1. On arrival at Fife House, you should ask reception staff to contact a member of the Election team who will be authorised to accept your postal vote.
2. A member of the Election team will come to reception with the Postal Vote Return form which must be completed when handing in your postal vote.
3. You will be asked to complete and sign this form before handing over your postal vote(s) to the member of the Election team.
4. The member of the Election team will endorse the form and accept your postal vote(s) or if required, reject the postal vote(s).

Please be aware - you cannot just hand them into reception, leave them on the reception desk, or post them in the mailbox at Fife House. If you do not complete the Postal Vote Return form, your postal vote will be rejected.

Handing in your postal vote to a polling station

1. On arrival at the polling station, go to the desk where polling staff are located. They will be authorised to accept your postal vote(s).
2. The polling station staff will give you a Postal Vote Return form.
3. They will ask you to complete and sign this form before handing over your postal vote(s).
4. The polling station staff will endorse the form and accept your postal vote.

Please be aware - you cannot just leave them at the polling station or on the desk if the staff are busy. If you do not complete the Postal Vote Return form, your postal vote will be rejected

If you are registered to vote, you will receive your poll card shortly. For this election, there are several new polling venues.

The 2024 Polling Districts and Polling Places map will show you where your nearest polling station is.

If you are affected by these changes, your poll card will confirm your new polling place.

The days which are disregarded in calculating the timetable are Saturday, Sunday, bank holidays, and any day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.

Please be aware that the timetable may change in the event of days being appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.

Members of the media must apply for a security pass to attend the count venue. Please read these notes in full before attending the count.

Security/ID passes

Everyone intending to visit the count must apply for media accreditation. Applications for count admission have now closed.

Count admission letters will be forwarded to the named contact as soon after 27th June 2024 as possible.

On entering the Michael Woods Centre, count admission letters must be given to the reception staff in exchange for an ID badge issued by the Returning Officer. This ID badge must be worn at all times whilst in the count venue.

If you misplace your count admission letter, please contact the Election Office immediately for a replacement. If there is insufficient time to issue a replacement, you will be asked to take photographic ID to the venue which must be shown to the reception staff on arrival – this should be in the form of a driving licence, passport or an identity badge issued by an employer. This must be agreed in advance of arrival at the count venue.

Count Venue

Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre, Viewfield, Glenrothes, KY6 2RD

UK Parliament Constituencies

• Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy – Electorate
• Dunfermline and Dollar
• Glenrothes and Mid Fife
• North East Fife

Returning Officer

Ken Gourlay

Count Format Thursday 4th July 2024

• Verification of constituency ballot papers
• Counting of votes cast

We anticipate the declaration for the first constituency will take place at 2am. We are hoping that proceedings will be completed around 4am.

Count Timings

Count proceedings will begin immediately after the close of poll at 10pm on Thursday 4th July 2024.

The count venue will open at 8pm.

Access to set up equipment

There will be access to the count venue between 8am and 2pm on the day of the election to set up equipment. Anyone in attendance at 2pm will be asked to vacate the count centre until 8pm when the venue re-opens.

Car Parking

There are adequate parking facilities at the centre for all attendees.

Media Area

Members of the media will be located in the gallery overlooking the main counting hall. Tables and chairs will be provided.

On arrival at the count venue, members of the media should make their way to the gallery area.

Please note that members of the media are not permitted to enter the main counting hall at any time.

The media area should be vacated within one hour after the close of proceedings.

Communication Team

Members of the Communications Team will be at the count to act as liaison between the Returning Officer/ Count Manager/candidates/election agents and the media. All media enquiries should be directed to them in the first instance.

• Prior to the count, email fifecouncil.news@fife.gov.uk
• On the night, speak to one of the team who will be easily identifiable by their badges.

Wi-Fi Access

Members of the media will be provided with Wifi credentials along with your count passes.

You will not be able to plug any router into the network. Fife Council does not permit third party equipment on our network.

The data circuit is 1gb up and 1gb down.

Fife Council will not support any live broadcast over our infrastructure. Broadcasters must bring their own equipment to allow them to broadcast live, they should not rely on us to be able to do that.

If you have any specific requirements such as video streaming, please advise us in advance by emailing shona.cameron@fife.gov.uk.

Power Requirements 

Power sockets are available in the gallery area.

PA system

Arrangements have been made with Apex Acoustics for feeds into the Returning Officer’s PA system. An engineer will be onsite to assist you with your requirements.

Catering

There are no refreshments provided for members of the media at the count venue by the Returning Officer. However, the venue café will be open from 8pm to 2am where you can purchase refreshments.

Further information

A Count Information Pack produced by the Returning Officer, detailing local arrangements for the count and including information, will be issued with your count admission letters.

The Electoral Commission has also produced a general guide to a UK Parliamentary election.

Contact Information

Communications

E: fifecouncil.news@fife.gov.uk
T: 01592 583312

Election Office - Shona Cameron, Electoral Services Manager

E: shona.cameron@fife.gov.uk
T: 03451 55 55 22

• Notice of Inspection - candidate expenses

The UK Parliamentary Election, also known as the General Election, was held on Thursday 4th July 2024 and saw voting take place across Fife’s four constituencies to elect Members of Parliament (MPs) to sit in the House of Commons.

Fife’s four UK Parliamentary constituencies are:

• Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy
• Dunfermline and Dollar
• Glenrothes and Mid Fife
• North East Fife

The results can be found on our UK Parliamentary election results July 2024 page.