Postal and Proxy Voting

Voting by post and by proxy

If you know that you won't be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can vote by post or ask someone you trust to cast your vote for you, which is called a proxy vote.

Apply online to vote by post or download an application form by 5pm on 19 June 2024.

Apply online to vote by proxy or download an application form by 5pm on 26 June 2024.

If you need a paper application form sent to you, please contact us.

If you are not applying online to vote by post or proxy, your completed application form should be sent to our Electoral Services and must be received by us by the relevant deadline.

If your postal vote has not yet arrived

If you applied for a postal vote close to the closing date for applications, your postal vote may still arrive.

If your postal vote has not arrived, or you have lost or spoilt your postal vote, please call us and make arrangements to come into our Market Street office and collect a replacement. We will be issuing replacements until 5pm on 4th July.

If you are too late to post your completed postal vote, you can drop it off at our Market Street office or in your polling station by 10pm Thursday 4th July (when polling stations close). In both cases you must complete a postal vote return form.

Changes to voting by post and proxy

You can now apply online to vote by post and for some types of proxy vote. You also need to prove your identity when applying, by providing your National Insurance number.

There are limits to how many people a voter can act as a proxy for. This means you can only act as a proxy for two people living in the UK. If you act as a proxy for people living overseas, you can act as proxy for up to four people but only two of these can be based in the UK.

These changes apply to UK Parliament elections, including by-elections and recall petitions, local elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

For more information visit electoralcommission.org/waystovote or call their helpline on 0800 328 0280.