Apply for a proxy vote
The deadline for proxy applications is 5pm, 6 working days before an election (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, Good Friday and bank holidays). If you already have a proxy vote arranged, you only need to reapply if your details have changed or you want to change your proxy.
The deadline for a proxy to apply to cast the proxy vote by post is 5pm, 11 working days before an election (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, Good Friday and bank holidays).
You and your proxy must be registered to vote. Your proxy must also be eligible to vote in the type of election they will be voting in. There are limits to how many people a voter can be a proxy for. Please go to the Electoral Commission website for guidance on how to vote by proxy.
Most electors can apply for a proxy vote online. You need to prove your identity when applying, by providing your National Insurance number.
Electors can apply for the following proxy votes online or by a paper application:
- Proxy vote for a particular election or referendum
- Proxy application for definite or indefinite period for overseas and service electors
Electors can only apply for the following types of proxy vote by a paper application form:
- Proxy application due to disability
- Proxy application due to employment, service etc.
- Emergency proxy application
- Proxy postal application
If you want to use a paper form, you can download a proxy application form from the Electoral Commission website. For a proxy postal application, your appointed proxy will need to contact our Electoral Services office for a paper application form. Our contact details are at the bottom of this page.
If you are an anonymously registered elector, you can only apply for a proxy vote on a paper form. You cannot apply online.
If you are unable to sign your application form, please ask us for a waiver, to exempt you from signing.
The deadline for proxy applications is 5pm, 6 working days before an election. This excludes Saturdays, Sundays, Good Friday and any other bank holiday.
You can apply for a proxy vote at any time before the deadline. You don’t have to wait for an election to apply.
At election time, we will send you and your proxy a poll card confirming the proxy vote arrangements.
By law, you can’t sign an application on behalf of another elector, even if you have Power of Attorney.
Please be aware that to vote by proxy, both you and your proxy must be registered to vote. Your proxy must also be eligible to vote in the type of election they will be voting in.
Your proxy will need to show their own photo ID to cast your vote at the polling station. They will not need to show your ID. Please visit our Voter ID page for more information.
If your proxy cannot get to your polling station, they can apply to vote cast the proxy vote by post by 5pm, 11 working days before an election (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, Good Friday and bank holidays). If they choose this option, they will not then be able to vote in person as the proxy. People voting by post will not need to provide ID.
If you want to vote in person, you can do so as long as your proxy has not already voted or has a proxy vote by post.
If you live overseas permanently, you will need to register as an overseas elector.
For more information, please go to the Electoral Commission website.
Who can be my proxy?
Your proxy must be registered as an elector themselves. They must also be eligible to vote at the election that you want them to vote in.
There are limits to how many people a voter can act as a proxy for.
Please go to the Electoral Commission website for guidance on how to vote by proxy
Identity checking
Absent vote applications must contain a National Insurance Number (NINo). If you cannot give a National Insurance Number, you must give a reason why one cannot be provided.
We must verify your details in your application (name, address, date of birth and NINo) against Department of Works and Pension (DWP) data.
If an application fails to match with DWP data, we will ask you for documentary evidence to verify your identity. Where this is not possible, you must submit an attestation to confirm your identity.
Maximum period for applications
A proxy vote can be in place for:
- a particular poll (poll held on specific date)
- a definite period of not more than 3 years
- a maximum period of up to 3 years
Proxy voters can continue to put in place a proxy arrangement for an indefinite period (subject to a three yearly eligibility check and five yearly signature refresh).
Change or cancel a proxy vote
The deadline for changes to an existing proxy vote is 5pm, 6 working days before an election.
The deadline for a proxy to apply to cast the proxy vote by post is 5pm, 11 working days before an election.
If you want to cancel your proxy vote, you must do so by the above deadline. We will only accept a cancellation request:
- by post
- by e-mail
- by phone
- from the elector only.
If we cancel your proxy vote, we will write to you to tell you that you should now vote in person.
If you make a new application, this will replace your old arrangement.
To reinstate your previous absent vote you will have to complete a new application form.
Emergency proxy voting
If you have an emergency and you can't vote in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy.
This must be for something you weren't aware of before the normal proxy vote deadline, which passed six working days before polling day.
You can only vote by emergency proxy for the following reasons:
- medical emergency
- work reasons
- your photo ID is lost, stolen or damaged, and the deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate has passed.
- your Anonymous Elector's Document is lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged.
The emergency proxy application must be received by our Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on polling day.
Please go to the Electoral Commission website to download an emergency proxy application form for one of the above categories.