Postal and proxy votes

Apply for a postal vote

To apply for a postal vote, you must download, print and fill in the postal vote application form.

Once you have completed the form and made sure you have signed it, you need to return it to us.

You can scan the form and upload your postal application, or you can post the form to us.

We must receive your postal vote application at least 11 working days before the election, so that we can issue your postal vote.

If we do not receive your application in time, you will still be able to vote at the polling station on the election day.

Casting your postal vote

We will send your postal vote pack to the requested address. We start sending them out three weeks before the election day. If you have applied for a postal vote close to the deadline, we will send out your pack in a later mailing.

You can find instructions about how to cast your postal vote in your pack.

You can also find out about casting your postal vote on GOV.UK.

If you make a mistake when completing your postal vote, you can correct the error and return the completed forms to us.

However, if you can’t clearly resolve the error, you need to contact Electoral Services, so we can reissue your postal vote. We can’t reissue your vote until four working days before the election.

You should return your postal vote as soon as you can in the envelopes we provide.

You can return it:

by post
by hand at our Civic Centre offices, if it is before 5pm on election day

If you are returning you postal vote by hand on the day of the election, you can hand it in before 10pm at:

your own polling station
another polling station in your ward (for city council elections)
another polling station in your parish (for parish council elections)

You can’t vote at a polling station if you have a postal vote.

Apply for a proxy vote

Download proxy vote application

To apply for a proxy vote, you must download, print and fill in a proxy vote application form.

You need to make sure that you and the person who is voting on your behalf has signed the form.

Once the form is complete, you need to return it to us.

You can scan the form and upload your proxy application, or you can post the form to us.

We must receive your proxy vote application at least six working days before the election, so that we can issue your proxy vote.

If we do not receive your application in time, you will still be able to vote at the polling station on the election day.

The proxy vote will only apply for one election.

Casting your proxy vote

Once your proxy vote has been approved, you and your proxy will receive a confirmation letter.

If you are a proxy and voting on behalf of someone else, you will also receive instructions about how and where to vote. You will have to vote at the polling station of the person you are a proxy for.

You can only be a proxy for close relatives and up to two other people.

Permanent proxy vote

You can only apply for a permanent proxy vote if you meet the requirements set by the Electoral Commission.

You can:

Apply for a postal proxy vote

Download postal proxy vote application

To apply for a postal proxy vote, you must download, print and fill in a postal proxy vote application form.

You need to make sure that the person casting the vote for you (your proxy) has signed the form. Once the form is complete, you need to return it to us.

You can scan the form and send it to us online, or you can post the form to us.

We must receive your postal proxy vote application at least 11 working days before the election, so that we can issue your postal proxy vote.

If we do not receive your application in time you will still be able to vote at the polling station on the election day.

Casting a postal proxy vote

Once your proxy vote has been approved, you and your proxy will receive a confirmation letter.

If you are a proxy and voting on behalf of someone else, you will also receive:

instructions about how to vote
the postal vote for the person you are proxy for

Proxy voters and who they are voting on behalf of can’t vote at a polling station if they have a postal proxy vote. However, they can return the postal proxy vote to the polling station if they do not post it.

To cancel your absent vote, you must download, print and fill in the cancellation form.

Once you have completed the form and made sure you have signed it, you need to return it to us.

You can scan the form and upload your cancellation request, or you can post the form to us.

We must receive your cancellation request form at least 11 working days before the election, so that you can cast your vote at your polling station.

If we do not receive your completed cancellation request form in time, you will still have your absent vote in place. This means you will be unable to vote at the polling station on the election day.

To request a re-issue of your postal vote, you must download, print and fill in the re-issue request form.

Once you have completed the form and made sure you have signed it, you need to return it to us.

You can scan the form and upload your postal vote re-issue request, or you can post the form to us.

We must receive your request no later than 5pm on the day of the election.

If we do not receive your completed postal vote re-issue request form in time, we will be unable to re-issue your postal vote.

By law, we cannot begin to process requests for a re-issue of your postal vote until one week before polling day. However, you can still submit your request before this date.

If you are unable to complete the re-issue request form, we are able to accept a written note to the same effect.