Apply to vote by proxy

To vote in any election in the UK, you must be registered to vote. Find out if you're eligible to register and how to apply

If you're not sure if you already have a proxy vote, contact the electoral services team at your local council to find out.

To vote in any election in the UK, you must be registered to vote. Find out if you're eligible to register and how to apply

If you're not sure if you already have a proxy vote, contact your local electoral registration office to find out.

If you know that you won’t be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is often referred to as your proxy.

The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote, or can apply to vote on your behalf by post.

Find out how to vote by proxy

If you know that you won’t be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote for you. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is often referred to as your proxy.

The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote, or can apply to vote for you by post.

In Northern Ireland, you can vote by proxy if you can't get to the polling station on polling day for certain reasons.

In certain circumstances, you can also apply for an indefinite proxy vote. You can do this at any time of year.

When completing the application, you need to give a reason why you can’t get to your polling station in person.

This may be because you’re going to be on holiday, away with work, or are unable to get to your polling station on polling day due to a disability.

When applying for a new proxy vote, you must return your proxy vote application form by 5pm, six working days before the poll.

To apply for a proxy vote, you need to complete an application. If you’re applying to vote by proxy for a particular poll, you live overseas or you’re a service voter, you can apply online.

The application includes instructions on how to fill it in correctly. You need to provide your date of birth, National Insurance number and signature on your application form.

You need to complete a new proxy vote application if you have moved house or changed your name.

You can choose to apply for a proxy vote for a particular election, a particular type of election, or all elections you are eligible to vote in. 

A proxy vote for a particular election

There are two ways to apply for a proxy vote for a particular election:

• Apply online through GOV.uk
• Download, print and complete the form to vote by proxy at a particular election (PDF)

A proxy vote for a particular type of election

If you want to apply for a proxy vote for a particular type of election only (for example, for council elections), you need to contact the electoral services team at your local council.

A permanent or long-term proxy vote

Use one of these forms if you won’t be able to go to the polling station for the foreseeable future, or a long period of time. 

The form you need to complete depends on the reason why you need a proxy vote.

• You have a disability (PDF)
• You are away on an educational course (PDF)
• You are away for work (PDF)
• You are registered as an overseas voter (PDF)
• You work overseas for the British Council or as a Crown servant (PDF)
• You are serving overseas in the Armed Forces (PDF)
• You are registered as an anonymous elector (PDF)

You can also apply online through GOV.uk if you live overseas or are a service voter.

To apply for a proxy vote, you need to complete an application. You can apply online for some elections in certain circumstances.

You need to provide your date of birth and signature on your application form. For UK Parliamentary elections, you also need to provide your National Insurance number.

You need to complete a new proxy vote application if you have moved house or changed your name.

You can choose to apply for a proxy vote for a particular election, a particular type of election, or all elections you are eligible to vote in. 

A proxy vote for a particular election

Download, print and complete this form to apply for a proxy vote for a particular election. This could be because you’re on holiday or away for work for an upcoming polling day.

Application form to vote by proxy at a particular election (PDF)

For UK Parliamentary elections, you can also apply to vote by proxy for a specific election through the GOV.uk website.

A proxy vote for a particular type of election

If you want to apply for a proxy vote for a particular type of election only (for example, for council elections), you need to contact your local electoral registration office. 

A permanent or long-term proxy vote

If you are unable to go to the polling place you can apply for a long-term proxy vote. 

The form you need to complete depends on the reason why you need a proxy vote.

• You have a disability (PDF)
• You are away on an educational course (PDF)
• You are away for work (PDF)
• You are registered as an overseas voter (PDF)
• You work overseas for the British Council or as a Crown servant (PDF)
• You are serving overseas in the Armed Forces (PDF)
• You are registered as an anonymous elector (PDF)

For UK Parliament elections, you can also apply online for a permanent or long-term proxy vote through GOV.uk if you live overseas or are a service voter.

To apply for a proxy vote, you need to complete an application form. You can apply online for some elections in certain circumstances.

You need to provide your date of birth and signature on your application form. For UK Parliamentary elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, you also need to provide your National Insurance number.

You need to complete a new proxy vote application if you have moved house or changed your name.

You can choose to apply for a proxy vote for a particular election, a particular type of election, or all elections you are eligible to vote in.

A proxy vote for a particular election

Download, print and complete this form to apply for a proxy vote for a particular election. This could be because you’re on holiday or away for work for an upcoming polling day.

Application form to vote by proxy at a particular election (PDF)

For UK Parliamentary elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, you can also apply to vote by proxy for an election through the GOV.uk website.

A proxy vote for a particular type of election

If you want to apply for a proxy vote for a particular type of election only (for example, for council elections), you need to contact the electoral services team at your local council.

A permanent or long-term proxy vote

Use one of these forms if you won’t be able to go to the polling station for the foreseeable future, or a long period of time. 

The form you need to complete depends on the reason why you need a proxy vote.

• You have a disability (PDF)
• You are away on an educational course (PDF)
• You are away for work (PDF)
• You are registered as an overseas voter (PDF)
• You work overseas for the British Council or as a Crown servant (PDF)
• You are serving overseas in the Armed Forces (PDF)
• You are registered as an anonymous elector (PDF)

For UK Parliamentary elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, you can also apply online through GOV.uk if you live overseas or are a service voter.

Elections in England, Scotland and Wales

To apply for a proxy vote, you need to complete an application form. You can apply online for some elections in certain circumstances. 

You need to provide your date of birth and signature on your application form. For UK Parliamentary elections, you also need to provide your National Insurance number.

You need to complete a new proxy vote application if you have moved house or changed your name.

You can choose to apply for a proxy vote for a particular election, a particular type of election, or all elections you are eligible to vote in.

A proxy vote for an election

For UK Parliamentary elections, you can apply to vote by proxy for an election through GOV.uk.

You can also download, print and complete a form to apply for a proxy vote for an election.

Application form to vote by proxy as an overseas voter

A proxy vote for a particular type of election

If you want to apply for a proxy vote for a particular type of election only (for example, for council elections), you need to contact:

• the electoral services team at your local council if you’re voting at an election in England or Wales
• your local electoral registration office if you’re voting at an election in Scotland

A permanent or long-term proxy vote

Use one of these forms if you won’t be able to go to the polling station for the foreseeable future, or a long period of time. 

For UK Parliamentary elections, you can also apply online through GOV.uk if you are an overseas or service voter.

The form you need to complete depends on the reason why you need a proxy vote.

• You are registered as an overseas voter (PDF)
• You work overseas for the British Council or as a Crown servant

Application form to vote by proxy in England if you work overseas for the British Council or as a Crown servant (PDF)

Application form to vote by proxy in Scotland if you work overseas for the British Council or as a Crown servant (PDF)

Application form to vote by proxy in Wales if you work overseas for the British Council or as a Crown servant (PDF)

• You are serving overseas in the Armed Forces

Application form to vote by proxy in England if you are serving overseas in the Armed Forces (PDF)

Application form to vote by proxy in Scotland if you are serving overseas in the Armed Forces (PDF)

Application form to vote by proxy in Wales if you are serving overseas in the Armed Forces (PDF)

• You are registered as an anonymous elector

Application form to vote by proxy in England if you registered as an anonymous elector (PDF)

Application form to vote by proxy in Scotland if you registered as an anonymous elector (PDF)

Application form to vote by proxy in Wales if you registered as an anonymous elector (PDF)

Elections in Northern Ireland

Download the absent vote form and find out more from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

If you registered to vote online, you'll need to provide your Digital Registration Number (DRN) on your application for a proxy vote.

Download the absent vote form and find out more from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

If you registered to vote online, you'll need to provide your Digital Registration Number (DRN) on your application for a proxy vote.

The application form includes instructions on how to fill it in correctly.

You will need to provide your date of birth and signature on your application form.

Once you have completed the form and made sure you have signed it, you need to send it to the electoral services team at your local council.

You can send your form by post. The electoral services team at your local council may also accept a scanned copy of your form by email, but you should check with them first.

When changing or cancelling an existing proxy or postal proxy vote, your request must reach the electoral services team at your local council by 5pm, 11 working days before the poll.

Once you have completed the form and made sure you have signed it, you need to send it to your local electoral registration office.

You can send your form by post. Your local electoral registration office may also accept a scanned copy of your form by email, but you should check with them first.

When changing or cancelling an existing proxy or postal proxy vote, your request must reach your local electoral registration office by 5pm, 11 working days before the poll. 

Once you have completed the form and made sure you have signed it, you need to send it by post to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

If you have nominated a proxy, but then change your mind and wish to vote yourself, then you have several options. 

One option is that you can apply to cancel your proxy vote. 

• In England and Wales contact your local council.
• In Scotland contact your electoral registration office.

The deadline to cancel a proxy vote in England, Scotland and Wales is 5pm, 11 working days before the election.

If a completed postal proxy vote has already been returned, the proxy arrangements cannot be cancelled for that election.

Another option is for you to vote in person. You can do this, as long as you do so before your proxy. This is not an option if your proxy has already voted by post on your behalf.

Alternatively, you can apply for a postal vote. The deadline to do so is 5pm, 11 working days before the election you will be voting in. This postal application will then cancel your application to vote by proxy.

England, Scotland and Wales

If you have nominated a proxy, but then change your mind and wish to vote yourself, then you have several options. 

One option is that you can apply to cancel your proxy vote. 

• In England and Wales contact your local council.
• In Scotland contact your electoral registration office.

The deadline to cancel a proxy vote in England, Scotland and Wales is 5pm, 11 working days before the election.

If a completed postal proxy vote has already been returned, the proxy arrangements cannot be cancelled for that election.

Another option is for you to vote in person. You can do this, as long as you do so before your proxy. This is not an option if your proxy has already voted by post on your behalf.

Alternatively, you can apply for a postal vote. The deadline to do so is 5pm, 11 working days before the election you will be voting in. This postal application will then cancel your application to vote by proxy.

Northern Ireland

Contact the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland for more information on this.

Contact the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland for more information on this.