The EU referendum is taking place on Thursday, June 23. Here's everything you need to know about whether you're eligible to vote, the voting process and more. 

For more coverage on the EU referendum, visit bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/eu_referendum 

What is the question on the ballot paper?

“Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?”

When will I get my polling card?

Polling cards are being distributed to registered voters now and you should receive it by Wednesday.

If you have not received your polling card, you need to register by visiting gov.uk/register-to-vote before June 7.

Am I eligible to vote?

It is worth noting that some people who were eligible to vote in the May elections won’t be eligible to vote in the EU referendum.

You can vote on 23 June if you are:

  • Registered to vote
  • Aged 18 or over
  • A British or Irish citizen living in the UK
  • A Commonwealth citizen living in the UK who has leave to remain in the UK or who does not require leave to remain in the UK
  • A British citizen living overseas who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years

When do the polling stations open?

They will open at 7am and close at 10pm on Thursday, June 23.

The location of your polling station will be printed on your polling card.

What happens after I cast my vote?

The ballot papers will be transferred to counting centres.

Poole’s count is being held at the Rossmore Leisure Centre, Bournemouth’s at the Littledown Centre and Christchurch’s at Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre.

Poole is one of 12 main regional centres across the country coordinating the announcement of results, and will oversee 38 counting areas across the south west and Gibraltar.

When and where will we learn what the result is?

The results will be declared by counting area so there should be an indication of how the vote share is developing throughout the night.

Returning officer for the south west, Paul Morris, will report the region’s results to Jenny Watson, the chief counting officer, using a secure electronic results collation system.

Ms Watson, who is also chair of the Electoral Commission, will declare the overall referendum result at Manchester Town Hall after all the local totals have been received, verified and collated.