• Home Page
• -
• Your council
• -
• Elections
• -
• Postal and proxy voting

If you are unable to get to the polling station on election day you can apply for a postal or proxy vote.  Contact the Elections Team on 443 2222 for an application form.

Please remember that during the election period there is always a deadline for receipt of applications.

Postal voting
Voting by post is becoming increasingly popular for people who cannot get to the polling station on election day. 

Once your application form has been received and confirmed by letter, we will send ballot papers to your home address before the election.  You should then complete and return your ballot paper in the envelope provided before the polling stations close on election day.  You can apply to have your postal vote for a particular election or a permanent basis.

New regulations have been introduced to make postal voting more secure. As part of this process all postal vote applications must include a signature and date of birth. The information is then stored electronically and used to compare against the signature and date of birth  that you will supply on the statement to be returned with your postal vote at election time.

Proxy voting
A proxy voter is someone you appoint to vote on your behalf if you cannot get to the polling station on election day.  You must give a reason why you cannot vote in person, for example, on holiday.

You can apply to vote by proxy for a particular election only, or on a permanent basis.  Please note, permanent proxy applications may require a signature in support, for example, a doctor or employer.