Elections

You may apply to vote by proxy for a permanent or fixed period if you are registered to vote and meet one or more of the following criteria:

• you are a service voter;
• you are blind or otherwise physically incapacitated;
• you or your spouse would be prevented from voting in person due to occupation, service or employment or by reason of attendance on a course provided by an educational institution (e.g. a university or college);
• you could not attend to vote in person without making a journey by sea or air.

Alternatively, you may apply for a proxy to vote for you for a particular election only, in which case you must specify the circumstances that prevent you from voting in person. If you are blind or otherwise physically incapacitated or are applying only for a particular election, your application for a proxy vote will not require this supporting declaration and a signature from a suitably qualified person.

If you are an overseas elector, mental patient or remand prisoner there are specific arrangements allowing you to vote by proxy and you should contact the electoral registration office for further information.

It is very important not to leave it too late to apply for a proxy vote. There are legal deadlines for receipt of applications for a proxy vote before each election and these will be published by the council.

You can download an application form (pdf 17KB) or email Electoral Services to ask for one. Please remember to include your full name and address. To use the download facility, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this on your computer, please use our advice page.

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