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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.

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.

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.

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

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 specific election, a particular type of election, or all elections you are eligible to vote in. If you are not sure if you already have a proxy vote, contact the electoral services team at your local council.

There are two ways to apply for a proxy vote for a particular 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.

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

Complete an application

You can apply for a proxy vote 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.

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

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. If you are not sure if you already have a proxy vote, contact the electoral services team at your local council.

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. 

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.

Apply by filling out a paper application form and sending it to the electoral services team at your local council.

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.

Complete an application

You can apply for a proxy vote 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.

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

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. If you are not sure if you already have a proxy vote, contact the electoral services team at your local council.

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.

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.

Apply by filling out a paper application form and sending it to the electoral services team at your local council.

For UK Parliament elections and Police and Crime Commissioner 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.

Complete an application

If your last UK address was in England, Scotland or Wales

To apply for a proxy vote, you need to complete an application form. 

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 specific election, a particular type of election, or all elections you are eligible to vote in.

If your last UK address was in England, Scotland or Wales

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

If you won’t be able to go to the polling station for the foreseeable future, or a long period of time, you can apply online through GOV.uk.

You can also apply by downloading and completing one of the forms below. 

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

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)

If your last address was in Northern Ireland

When registering to vote, you can choose to vote by proxy. You can download, print and complete a registration form from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. 

When you have completed your application send it to

Electoral Office (Absent votes)
St Anne’s House,
15 Church Street, 
Belfast
BT1 1ER

Download the application form

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. If you've forgotten your Digital Registration Number (DRN) you can request it online using the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland's Am I Registered service.

Filling in your form

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.

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

If you’ve forgotten your Digital Registration Number (DRN) you can request to be notified of it by completing the Digital Registration Number (DRN) form.

Help with the application 

If you need any support with your application, are unable to print the application form or need it in an accessible format, contact the electoral services team at your local council for help.

Help with the application

If you need any support with your application, are unable to print the application form or need it in an accessible format, contact your local electoral registration office.

Where to send your completed 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.

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

Where to send your completed form

If your last UK address was in England, Scotland or Wales

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.

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.

If your last UK address was in Northern Ireland

Send your completed application to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

Find where to send your form

Enter your postcode to find the address of your electoral services team. The electoral services team may also accept a scanned copy of your form by email, but you should check with them first.

If you’re making changes to or cancelling an existing proxy, postal or postal proxy vote, you must do so by 5pm, 11 working days before the poll.

If you have applied for a proxy vote for a particular poll and you need to change it, you must submit a new application to vote by proxy, by 5pm, six working days before the poll. This new application will replace your previous application.

If you already have a postal vote and want to change it to a proxy vote, you need must to cancel your postal vote by 5pm, 11 working days before the poll. You can then submit a proxy vote application by 5pm, six working days before the poll.

Where to send your completed form

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

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. 

Find where to send your form

Enter your postcode to find the address of your electoral registration office. The electoral registration office may also accept a scanned copy of your form by email, but you should check with them first.

Where to send your completed form

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.

Postal proxy vote

If your trusted person can’t get to the polling station, they can apply to vote on your behalf by post. This is called a postal proxy vote.

The deadline to apply for a postal proxy vote is 5pm, 11 working days before the poll. For elections taking place on 1 May, the deadline to apply for a postal proxy vote is Monday 14 April at 5pm.

They will need to contact the electoral services team at your local council for more details and to request a further application form.

Postal proxy vote

If your trusted person can’t get to the polling place, they can apply to vote on your behalf by post. This is called a postal proxy vote.

The deadline to apply for a postal proxy vote is 5pm, 11 working days before the poll.

They will need to contact your local electoral registration office for more details and to request a further application form.

Postal proxy vote

If your trusted person can't get to the polling station, they can apply to vote for you by post. This is called a postal proxy vote.

They will need to contact the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland for more details.

How to cancel your proxy vote

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

  • You can apply to cancel your proxy vote. Contact your local council to cancel your proxy vote. The deadline to cancel a proxy vote in is 5pm, 11 working days before the election.
  • You can 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.
  • 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.

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

How to cancel your proxy vote

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

  • You can apply to cancel your proxy vote. Contact your electoral registration office to cancel your proxy vote. The deadline to cancel a proxy vote is 5pm, 11 working days before the election.
  • You can 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.
  • 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.

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

How to cancel your proxy vote

England, Scotland and Wales

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

  • You can apply to cancel your proxy vote. The deadline to cancel a proxy vote is 5pm, 11 working days before the election.
  • You can 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.
  • 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.

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

Northern Ireland

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

How to cancel your proxy vote

Emergency proxy vote

In certain circumstances, where you have an emergency that means you can't vote in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy. If your last UK address was in Northern Ireland, you can’t apply for an emergency proxy.

Find out more about emergency proxy votes

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