Apply online to vote by proxy

You can now apply online to appoint a person to vote on your behalf.

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If you're unable to get to your polling station on polling day, you can appoint someone you trust to vote on your behalf.  This is called a proxy vote and the person casting the vote is referred to as a proxy.

Applying for a proxy vote for a specific election

You can apply for a proxy vote for a specific election, for example because you're going to be on holiday or away for work on polling day. 

Applying for a permanent or long-term proxy vote 

If, however, you won't be able to go to the polling station for the foreseeable future, or a long period of time, you may be able to apply for a permanent or long-term proxy vote. 

Some applications for a permanent or long-term proxy vote require a declaration to be made by an 'appropriate person' in support of the application.  The online application to vote by proxy service will highlight this where necessary and direct you to complete the relevant paper application form instead.  

Who can be appointed as your proxy 

Your proxy must be aged 18 or over, registered to vote and eligible to vote for that particular election, referendum or poll.  

At the same election, someone can only be a proxy for two people based in the UK. If they are acting as proxy for people living overseas, they can act as proxy for up to four people but only two of these can be based in the UK.

Your proxy voting arrangements - what you and your proxy need to do

Once your proxy vote is set up, whenever an election, referendum or poll at which you are registered to vote by proxy is called, you and your proxy will be sent a proxy poll card, giving details of the forthcoming election, referendum or poll.

You will need to tell the person you have appointed as your proxy how you want them to vote on your behalf, for example which candidate, party or referendum option.

To vote on your behalf, your proxy will need to go to your polling station on polling day and they will need to show their own photo ID to cast your vote.  They will not need to show your ID.  It would be helpful if they bring with them the proxy poll card they will receive from the council, although this is not essential.  

If your proxy cannot go to your polling station, they can apply for a postal proxy vote (see more information below).  

Changing or cancelling your proxy voting arrangements 

If you want to change your appointed proxy, you will need tell us in writing (by post or email).  The easiest way to do this is to complete and submit a new application form.

You can cancel your proxy vote, but you must tell us in writing (by post or email).  

There is a deadline by which we must receive your instructions to make changes to your proxy voting arrangements, including cancelling your proxy vote, for each election, referendum or poll has a deadline.  You should check the deadline on the relevant page for the election, referendum or poll under Forthcoming elections referenda and polls.

How to apply for a proxy vote

You can now apply online to vote by proxy or alternatively you can download an application form.  If you need a paper application sent to you, please contact Electoral Services.

There is a deadline by which we must receive your application to vote by proxy for each election, referendum and poll.  You should check the deadline on the relevant page for the election, referendum or poll under Forthcoming elections referenda and polls. 

If you are not applying online to vote by proxy, your completed application form should be sent to Electoral Services (you can email us a scan or photo of your completed form).

Voting by postal proxy

If you appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf and they cannot get to your polling station, they can apply to vote by post for you (a postal proxy). If they need a paper application form, they can contact us.

Your appointed proxy should contact Electoral Services for an application form.  

There is a deadline by which we must receive applications to vote by post for each election, referendum and poll.  Your appointed proxy should check the deadline on the relevant page for the election, referendum or poll under Forthcoming elections, referenda and polls.  

Your appointed proxy's completed postal proxy application form, which should be submitted with or after your own proxy vote application, should be sent to Electoral Services. 

Voting by emergency proxy 

If the proxy vote deadline for an election has passed, you may be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote if you can't go to the polling station because:

  • you have a medical emergency
  • you're away for work 
  • your photo ID is lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged, and the deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate has passed
  • you’ve not yet received new or replacement photo ID you’ve ordered
  • your Anonymous Elector's Document is lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged

and you became aware of this after the deadline for applying for an ordinary proxy vote.

You can also apply to change an existing proxy if the photo ID your proxy intended to use becomes unavailable after the deadline for applying for an ordinary proxy vote and they do not have a different form of accepted photo ID they can use.  Please note: if your existing proxy is appointed on a permanent or long-term arrangement, your new proxy will replace them and remain appointed for future elections unless you apply again to change or cancel your proxy.

Some applications for an emergency proxy vote require a declaration to be made by an 'appropriate person' in support of the application.  Where this is necessary, details will be shown on the application form.    

Find out more information about voting by emergency proxy.

To apply for an emergency proxy vote, download the relevant application form or contact us for a  paper application form.

Your completed form should be sent to Electoral Services (you can email us a scan or photo of your completed form) - this must be received by us by 5pm on polling day.