You may still be able to vote even if you are unable to get to your polling station on election day. You can apply to vote by post or proxy. (A proxy is someone who votes on your behalf).
If you want to appoint a proxy to vote for you, he or she must be:
- Willing to vote on your behalf
- A British citizen or citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland, or for local government and European Parliamentary elections, a citizen of the European Union
- Old enough to vote and legally allowed to vote.
You will need to enter your proxy's full name and address, together with details of their relationship to you (if any) on the form. A proxy may not vote at the same election for more than two people unless they are a close relative (husband, wife, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild) of the people they are voting for. Your proxy does not necessarily have to sign the form. As long as you have consulted them and they have confirmed that they can and will be your proxy, only you need sign the form and state your date of birth. If the person you want to be your proxy does not live in the same area as you, and would have to travel to attend your usual Polling Station - please ask for details of a Postal Proxy Vote.
If an election is announced and you know that you will not be able to vote in person, you must complete and return an application form as soon as possible. Forms are also available from any of the Council's four Town Centre Offices or from Main Reception at the Town Hall, Ripley
The electoral registration officer must receive your completed application form by 5.00 pm, six working days before election day. (Working days exclude weekends, bank holidays, Good Friday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). This leaves very little time after an election is announced, so you must complete and return your form as quickly as possible.
If you become ill after this deadline, and will be unable to attend the Polling Station, there is a special deadline of 5 pm on Election Day to cover medical emergencies. In this case, it will be necessary for your application to be countersigned by your Doctor.
Once your application is accepted, your proxy will receive a “proxy paper” which allows him or her to vote on your behalf on election day.
You can either download an application form from this page or telephone the Postal/Proxy Votes Helpline below.
