Voting and registering to vote

Voting by proxy

You can appoint someone to vote on your behalf – this person is called a proxy

The proxy should be someone you trust to vote the way you ask them to. They can either vote at a polling station or by post.

Before you appoint a proxy you must first register to vote by proxy. You can do this by downloading a form from the GOV.UK website, completing it and sending it to us.

GOV.UK: apply for a proxy vote

You should complete and return the application form as soon as you can. We must receive all new applications by 5pm, 6 working days before the election.

After we receive your application, we will send:

  • a letter to you confirming the appointment
  • a letter to your proxy confirming the appointment
  • a letter to your proxy giving them instructions

Voting by proxy for a particular election

When you register to vote by proxy, you need to give a reason why you can't vote in person. Acceptable reasons include the following:

  • you are physically incapable of getting to your polling station due to a medical condition
  • your job or an educational course prevents you from voting in person at the polling station
  • attending the polling station would involve a journey by air or sea

If you are able to vote in person on the day of the election you can still do so, as long as your proxy has not already voted on your behalf.

Voting by proxy for more than one election

If you want to appoint a proxy for more than one election, you need to give a reason why you can't vote in person. Acceptable reasons include the following:

  • you are blind or have another disability
  • your job or an educational course prevents you from voting in person
  • you are registered as a service voter
  • you are registered as an overseas voter
  • you are registered as an anonymous elector
  • you have to travel by sea or sea to get to the polling station

Proxy postal voting

Your proxy can vote by post but they must register to vote by postal proxy. To download an application form, go to the Electoral Commission website.

You should complete and return the application form as soon as you can. We must receive all new applications by 5pm, 11 working days before the election.

We will send the postal vote to the proxy with instructions on how to vote.

When you have registered for a proxy postal vote:

  • you cannot vote at the polling station
  • your proxy cannot vote at the polling station
  • you or your proxy can hand your sealed postal vote into the polling station