Vote by proxy

You can get someone else to vote on your behalf (a proxy) if you cannot go to the polling station in person.

When you apply you must provide a reason. You can apply for a proxy vote if:

• You are unable to go to the polling station for one particular election
• You are a British citizen living overseas
• You are in the armed forces
• You are a spouse or civil partner of someone in the armed forces
• You are a crown servant or British Council employee
• You are a spouse or civil partner of a crown servant or British Council employee
• Your attendance on an educational course means that you cannot go to the polling station on election day
• Your employment means that you cannot go to the polling station on election day
• You have a disability that means you cannot go to the polling station on election day

If someone is registered blind, they may ask someone else to support their application to confirm that their reason for applying to vote by proxy is valid.

Anyone can be your proxy as long as they are individually registered and eligible to vote in UK elections. The proxy must be eligible to vote in the election for which they have been appointed as a proxy. The proxy must be willing to vote on your behalf and cannot act as a proxy for more than four other electors, of which no more than two can be domestic electors (electors who are neither service electors nor overseas electors).

Proxy voting

• Your proxy must go to your polling station to vote on your behalf. If your proxy cannot get to the polling station, they can apply to vote on your behalf by post by contacting Electoral Services
• Your proxy will need to show their own photo ID to cast your vote at your polling station (they will not need to show your ID)
• Your proxy will be sent a proxy poll card before the election telling them where and when to vote on your behalf
• You must let your proxy know how you want them to vote on your behalf
• If you can go to the polling station on election day, you can still vote provided your proxy has not already done so or has not applied to vote by post

Applying for a proxy vote

The deadline for your proxy vote application to be received by Electoral Services is 5pm, 11 working days before an election when changing or cancelling an existing proxy, postal or postal proxy vote and by 5pm, 6 working days before an election when applying for a new proxy vote.

Emergency proxy vote application forms must be received by the Electoral Services office before 5pm, on election day. You must apply for an emergency proxy using a paper application form.

All applications – both online and paper – will require an identity check as part of the application process. If your identity cannot be verified against the Department for Work & Pensions' records, then the Electoral Services office will request some documentary evidence to prove your identity.

Apply to Vote by Proxy

If you cannot apply online or do not have access to a printer, you can contact Electoral Services and they will send you a proxy vote application form

Paper proxy vote application forms should be returned to Electoral Registration Officer, Charnwood Borough Council, Southfield Road, Loughborough, LE11 2TR or send a scanned copy of the completed form to Electoral Services.

How to check if you have a proxy vote

If you wish to know whether you have a proxy vote, please contact Electoral Services and they can confirm whether you have a proxy vote set up.

How to cancel your proxy vote

If you wish to cancel your proxy vote, you will need to send a signed letter to Electoral Services requesting that they cancel your proxy vote.

Alternatively, please contact Electoral Services who can send you a proxy vote cancellation form.

The deadline for your proxy vote cancellation form to be received by Electoral Services is 5pm, 11 working days before an election.

For more information about voting by proxy, please visit The Electoral Commission.