Absent voting

Absent voting

Postal voting is available upon demand and the forms can be downloaded from this website or alternatively you can request copies to be posted to you. If you are unable to get to the polling station in person, you may apply for a postal vote.

Alternatively, you may wish to apply for a proxy vote, but for these applications there must be a legally valid reason as to why this method of voting is required and will require evidence.

The deadline, for us to receive absent voting applications and amendments to existing arrangements is 5pm, 11 days before Polling day.

General information about postal voting

Postal votes are available upon request, meaning any elector who wants a postal vote can have one. The elector can apply for a postal vote on a permanent or temporary basis. If the voter chooses to vote by post, a ballot paper will be sent to the address given on the application, including addresses outside the U.K.

Postal votes are sent out by 1st class post, on a regular basis starting 10 working days before polling day and contains the:

ballot paper;
postal vote statement (which must be witnessed by someone who knows them);
ballot paper envelope;
return envelope.

Once the postal vote is received it is important to check all the contents and read the instructions on the back of the postal vote statement. A mark should be made (traditionally an X) against the Candidate/Party of the electors choice, then the ballot paper must be folded and placed into the ballot paper envelope. The postal vote statement must also be completed and then put into the return envelope along with the ballot paper envelope.

The envelope must be received back by Election Staff before the polls close on polling day. It can either be posted back, hand delivered to the Council Offices or handed in at a Polling Station in the same area - but must be received by the time the Poll closes.

If a voter spoils their ballot paper, it may be returned to the Returning Officer at the Council Offices and a replacement paper can be issued. However the deadline for receipt of the completed ballot paper is still by the close of poll on polling day.

If the voter chooses to vote by post, but then realises he/she is able to get to the polling station to vote in person, they will not be allowed in person to vote at the polling station. If they wish to use their vote they must vote using the postal ballot paper sent to them.

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General information about proxy voting

An elector may choose to appoint a proxy. This means that they need to appoint someone to vote on their behalf. This person must be:

willing to vote on their behalf
a British, Commonwealth or Irish citizen
legally allowed to vote in this Country

An elector can only act as a proxy for two people to whom they are not directly related. However they can be a proxy for any number of electors if they are directly related to those electors. If the elector wishes to appoint someone who is unable to get to the polling station to vote in person, the proxy may apply to vote by post as a proxy and may obtain the relevant form from any Electoral Office.

When the proxy appointment has been approved both the elector and proxy will be sent confirmation that he/she is the elector's proxy and at which elections he/she can cast their vote.

About one week before polling day the proxy will be sent a proxy polling card, which will confirm when polling day is, where the polling station is and it's opening hours. It will show his/her name and address and the elector's name. It also gives details of the procedure to follow when casting a proxy vote. If the proxy has applied to vote by post as proxy, he/she will be sent the ballot paper about 10 days before polling day. On receipt the proxy completes the postal ballot as detailed above.

If the elector appointed a proxy but then is able to get to the polling station to vote in person, the elector will be allowed to vote as long as their proxy has not already cast their vote. However, if the proxy has applied to vote by post because he/she is unable to get to the polling station in person, the elector will not be allowed to vote in person as their vote will have been cast using the postal ballot paper sent to their proxy.

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Types of application

Postal Vote application

All electors wishing to vote by post should complete the Postal Vote Application form. The form is quite simple and the elector must fill in all sections of the form. The applicant has the opportunity to choose the length of time they want to have a postal vote for. For example one person may only want to receive a postal vote for a particular election, whilst another elector may decide that they want to receive a postal vote for all elections on a permanent basis.

Proxy Vote aplication

Those electors who want to appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf must complete one of the two following forms.

For a Definite or Indefinite Period

This form is a little more complex in that you can apply on various grounds, most of which will require someone to support your application.

Sections one to five are straightforward enough, but section six needs a little more thought. This section is broken down into seven subsections. Each applicant will need to complete the appropriate sub section.

Subsection A - Physical Incapacity

You would complete this subsection if you have a particular disability which deters you from getting to the polling station in person. This subsection will need to be signed by your Doctor, Nurse or Christian Science Practitioner.

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Subsection B - Living in a Residential Care Home or Sheltered Housing Accommodation

This subsection is self explanatory. It would need to be signed by the warden of the housing development.

Subsection C - Blind Person

This subsection does not need to be signed by someone supporting your application, but does need to state which Authority you are registered with.

Subsection D - In receipt of the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance

This subsection does not need to be signed by someone supporting your application, but does need to state what physical incapacity you suffer from to receive this allowance.

Subsection E - Employment or Attending a Course

This subsection is intended for electors whose work often takes them away from home or students who are away at college for example. Depending on the reason for applying this subsection must be signed by the applicants employer or course tutor.

Subsection F - Self-Employed

This subsection is intended for electors whose work often takes them away from home but who are self-employed and therefore have no employer to support their application. It must be signed by an elector who knows the applicant but is not related to them.

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Subsection G - Journey necessary by Air or Sea

This subsection is intended for electors who would have to travel a substantial distance by air or sea to get to their polling station and does not require a signature in support of the application.

Acknowledgments will be sent to the applicant and the proxy when the application has been accepted. It will last for the period specified on the application, until cancelled by the elector or until the elector's name is removed from the Electoral Register. We may periodically check whether you still require this arrangement.

For a Particular Election only

This application could be completed if the elector would normally be able to vote in person, but on this occasion are unable because they are for example, away on holiday, visiting a relative, ill, in hospital, working in a polling station or are simply called away on business.

The form must be completed by the elector and give the reason why they are not able to attend in person before they sign it and return the form to us.

An acknowledgement will be sent when the application has been accepted. As soon as the election is over the arrangement will be cancelled. Unless there are two elections held on the same day, it is necessary to apply on separate applications each time an election is called.

Request for an Postal Vote Application: Pdf (14kb) or online form
Application to vote by proxy (Pdf 43kb)

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