Proxy voting
Instead of voting at your designated Polling Station on the day of poll, you can apply for someone to vote on your behalf as a proxy. You can apply for a proxy vote for a particular election, or a longer period under certain conditions and if it is attested by a relevant person.
How do I apply for a proxy vote?
If you need to apply to vote by proxy for a specific election the easiest way is online.
Alternatively, or if you wish to vote by proxy for a longer period you need to complete the relevant paper form.
The person you wish to appoint as your proxy can only act as proxy if they are 18 years old or over and registered to vote in the election. The person cannot be a proxy for more than four people (two domestic electors and two overseas electors).
An application for a proxy vote must be received in the Electoral Services Office by 5pm on the sixth working day before an election.
When you appoint a proxy they will need to be able to attend your designated Polling Station to be able to vote. If this is not convenient, for example, if your proxy lives outside the area they can apply to cast your proxy vote by post.
In this situation, the application for a proxy vote and the application from the person you appoint to cast the proxy vote by post must be received in the Electoral Services Office by 5pm on the eleventh working day before an election. Please contact us if you wish to vote in this way.
If you wish to cancel your proxy vote (or proxy vote by post), we must receive notification of this by 5pm on the eleventh working day before an election.
How does my proxy vote on my behalf?
Your proxy should receive a proxy poll card, but they do not need this to vote on your behalf. They need to tell the polling station staff that they are a proxy and the name and address of the person they are acting as a proxy for. They will to take an accepted forms of ID to be able to vote (they do not need take your ID). If they do not have a valid form of ID you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. You can still vote in person if you get to your polling station before your proxy.