Postal and proxy voting in the UK: how to set it up
If you will be away on polling day, you can still vote by post or through someone you trust. Here is how to apply, how long it lasts, and how to return your ballot correctly.
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You do not have to vote in person at a polling station in the UK. If you are away on polling day, abroad, or simply find it easier, there are two options: voting by post (a postal vote) and voting through someone else (a proxy vote). Both must be arranged in advance — polling day itself is too late.
How does postal voting work?
To vote by post you must make a separate application. You can apply for a single election date, for a set period, or for up to 3 years. Once approved, your ballot arrives by post in advance. You mark your choice, complete the postal voting statement, put everything in the envelope provided and seal it yourself.
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Send the completed pack back as quickly as possible. If you cannot post it in time, in England and Wales you can take the ballot to your own polling station by 10pm on polling day, or to your electoral registration office before it closes — handing it to a member of staff and completing a form. You cannot just drop it through the office letterbox. One person may hand in their own pack plus up to 5 others; party campaigners may only do so for family members or people they regularly care for.
What about a proxy vote?
A proxy vote is where someone you trust votes for you at the polling station. In England, Scotland and Wales you apply for a proxy vote online or by post; in Northern Ireland, by post only. If you are voting as someone's proxy, check with their electoral registration office where their polling station is.
What to sort out early
Both postal and proxy votes have their own application deadlines before each election, published by your local council. Check the dates early and do not leave it late: a missed deadline cannot be undone, and you could lose your vote. You must first be on the electoral register before you can arrange a postal or proxy vote.
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