We are currently updating our website to take account of changes which came into effect on 31 October 2023 and affect the way you apply for absent votes.  After this date you will need to apply separately for UK Parliament and Scottish Parliament/Local Government elections. Applications for postal or proxy voting at UK Parliament elections will be made online and will require information such as a national insurance number to be provided.

Contact us for further information.

• Voting by Post

  This is option is available to all registered electors and can be for a particular election, a set period or indefinite. You need to be registered as an elector and provide your date of birth and a sample signature. Ballot papers can be posted to any address in the UK or abroad, although if you are overseas at the time of an election you may wish to appoint a proxy as postal ballot papers are normally issued approximately one week ahead of an election and must be returned and in the hands of the Returning Officer who conducts the election by the close of the poll on the day of the election.

  Signatures and Dates of Birth must be provided by electors who apply to vote by post. In special circumstances, a signature waiver can be granted if we agree that a particular elector cannot provide a consistent signature. The signatures and dates of birth are called Personal Identifiers and are kept securely. They are used by Returning Officers running elections to check the signature and date of birth provided with electors’ completed postal ballot security statements.

  Signatures have to be refreshed periodically to ensure that any changes in a voter’s signature do not lead to a postal ballot paper being rejected by the Returning Officer at the time of a particular election.  If you do not respond to an invitation to refresh your signature, you will be advised in writing that your arrangements to vote by post have been cancelled.  You will however still be able to vote as long as your remain registered to do so.  You can also re-apply to vote by post.  If however you can no longer provide a consistent signature but want to continue to vote by post, you can apply for an exemption.  Please contact us for details.

  Application forms are available below.

  Application Forms

• Voting by Proxy

  This option is available to all registered electors who cannot reasonably be expected to vote in person at their polling station and have not opted to vote by post.

  In UK elections, a proxy will be unable to vote for more than 4 people, and only 2 of these can be domestic electors (domestic electors are those electors who are neither service electors nor overseas electors).

  In Scottish elections a proxy can vote on behalf of no more than two electors, except where they are the spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild of the electors. There is no limit to the number of close relatives that a proxy may vote on behalf of.

  Please check with your chosen proxy that they meet these requirements before submitting your application. If they don’t you will need to find another proxy to vote on your behalf.

  You can vote by proxy for an indefinite period if you are:

  • registered to vote as a British citizen resident overseas
  • registered to vote as a member of HM Armed Forces (or the spouse /civil partner)
  • registered as a Crown servant or British Council employee who is overseas (or the spouse/civil partner)
  • registered as an anonymous voter
  • unable to vote in person due to a disability
  • unable to vote in person due to attendance at an educational course (or the spouse/civil partner of the student)
  • unable to vote in person due to employment reasons (or the spouse/civil partner)

  If your proxy cannot cast your vote in person, they too can apply to vote by post – but must apply before the earlier deadline that applies for postal voting.

  Signatures and Dates of Birth must be provided by electors who apply to vote by  proxy.  In special circumstances, a signature waiver can be granted if we agree that a particular elector cannot provide a consistent signature. Persons appointed as proxies are only required to provide signatures and dates of birth if they wish to vote by post.  The signatures and dates of birth are called Personal Identifiers and are kept securely. They are used by Returning Officers running elections to check the signature and date of birth provided with electors’ completed postal ballot security statements.

  Signatures have to be refreshed periodically to ensure that any changes in a signature do not lead to a postal ballot paper being rejected by the Returning Officer at the time of a particular election.  If you do not respond to an invitation to refresh your signature, you will be advised in writing that your postal absent voting arrangements have been cancelled.  You will however still be able to act as a proxy as long as you remain appointed to do so.  You can also re-apply to vote by post.  If however you can no longer provide a consistent signature but want to continue with your absent voting arrangements you should contact us for advice.

  Application forms are available below.

  Application Forms

• Deadlines

  Applications can be made all year round, but there are deadlines for applications to register to vote or apply for an absent vote ahead of specific elections.