Apply for a postal and proxy vote page
Apply for a postal or proxy vote in the UK to ensure you can vote even if you're away or unable to attend your polling station.
Voting by post
Voting by post allows you to vote at home without needing to visit a polling station. Before each election we will send your ballot paper to you in the post with a form to complete with your date of birth and signature.
Applying for a postal vote
You can apply for a postal vote online on the Government’s website. You will need your national insurance number and you will need to upload a copy of your signature.
If you need any assistance please contact Electoral Services –email
Things to consider when applying for a postal vote
If you choose to vote by post, be aware that your postal vote may not be sent out until very close to the election, particularly if you apply close to the deadline. You must take this into consideration if you are away prior to the date of the election, or have asked for the postal vote to be redirected abroad.
If you are concerned your postal vote may not arrive in time then you may wish to consider a proxy vote.
Voting by proxy
If you cannot make it to a polling station on polling day then you can send someone else to vote on your behalf. This is called voting by proxy.
The person you nominate as your proxy must be registered to vote and will need to be able to show valid photo ID at the polling station.
You can apply to vote by proxy as a one-off for a particular election or for a permanent proxy vote if your circumstances mean you will have difficulty getting to a polling station long-term.
Applying for a proxy vote
You can apply for a proxy vote online on the Government's website.
The deadline to apply to vote by proxy is normally six working days before an election. However, in some circumstances emergency proxy voting is also available. Please contact us for more information and guidance about voting by Emergency Proxy.
If you have a completed form to submit, please email it to