How does postal voting work?
Postal voting is a convenient way to vote as you don’t need to go to a polling station. All you need to do is:
- Mark the ballot paper for the candidate you are voting for
- Sign and provide your date of birth on the statement which comes with the postal vote
- Return it to the Returning Officer at Ryedale House, Malton in the reply paid envelope
You need to make sure you sign your postal vote and include your date of birth. You can apply for a postal vote up to 11 working days before an Election is held. To request a postal vote please visit the Electoral Commission website to download an application form.
What is proxy voting?
Proxy voting means that if you aren’t able to cast your vote in person, you can have someone you trust cast your vote for you. When you apply for a proxy vote you must provide a reason. You can apply for a proxy vote if:
- You are unable to go to the polling station if you are away on holiday
- You have a physical condition that means you cannot go to the polling station
- Your employment prevents you from voting at your polling station
The person wishing to act as your proxy must be over the age of 18 and registered to vote. To request a proxy vote please visit the Electoral Commission website to download an application form.
To be valid, every new absent voting application must include the applicant’s signature and date of birth.
Other rules:
- All applications need the date of birth to be supplied in a dd/mm/yyyy format
- All applications must have the signature supplied
- Where a postal vote is to be sent to an address other than the registered address, a reason for this redirection must be given
- Where applicable, a reason must be given why a signature is unable to be provided and the name and address of any person who has assisted the application
Where an applicant is unable to provide a signature, they may request that the Electoral Registration Officer waive the requirement for a signature. Any such request must include the reason(s) for it, along with the name and address of any person who has assisted them with the completion of the application.
Timescales for making absent vote applications before polling
- The latest date for making a new application for a postal vote is 5 pm, eleven days before Polling Day
- The latest date for making a new application for a proxy vote is 5 pm, six days before Polling Day
- The latest date for amending an existing postal or postal proxy application is 5 pm eleven days before Polling Day.
In the case of a medical emergency on the grounds of unforeseen physical incapacity, a proxy application can be received up until 5pm on the day of poll. To request an emergency proxy vote please visit the Electoral Commission website to download an application form.
For further information on voting please visit the Electoral Commission’s website.