Elections - Postal & Proxy Voting
New applications to vote by post or proxy from 1st January 2007
From 1st January 2007, every new absent voting application must include the applicant's signature and date of birth to be valid. The Regulations prescribe that:
- All applications require 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, the reason why a signature is unable to be provided and the name and address of any person who has assisted the application.
These provisions are in addition to the existing requirements for absent vote applications, namely that:
- They must be in writing and be dated by the applicant.
- They must include the full name of the applicant.
- They must include the registration address or for a postal proxy application, the elector's name and address and the proxy's name and address.
- They must include the address where the postal ballot paper should be sent, and if this is not the registration address, a reason for this re-direction.
- On proxy applications, they must include the reason for the application and attestation if it is more than a single election.
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.
Existing absent voters
By law, all Electoral Registration Officers had to send a notice after 1st January 2006, to all existing postal, proxy and postal proxy voters, requiring them to supply a specimen of their signature and their date of birth. This information had to be supplied back to the Electoral Services Office with 42 calendar days of the date of the notice. If any absent voter did not respond to the initial notice with 21 calendar days, the Electoral Registration Officer had to send them a reminder.
If the Electoral Registration Officer did not receive the required identifiers within 42 days of the date of the initial notice, the absent voter by law had to be removed from the absent voting record. This applied equally to an elector who had actively refused to provide both identifiers, as to an elector whose application had not been received by that deadline.
New applications to vote by post
Although every effort is made to cater for the majority, clearly in a largely rural District like South Shropshire, a number of households are located at considerable distance from their allotted polling place. All electors should be aware that they have the right to choose to vote by post at any or all future elections.
If you feel that the location of your polling station may cause you a problem or inconvenience, please consider making an application for a postal vote in time for use at all future elections.
New applications to vote by proxy
In some circumstances it is possible for someone else to vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy.
There are two types of proxy vote you can request:
- A Permanent Proxy Vote
- A Proxy Vote at a Particular Election
A Permanent Proxy Vote
An application for a permanent proxy vote must give a reason why you cannot vote in person i.e.
- physical incapacity
- employment
Almost all permanent proxy vote applications have to be certified by a qualified third party. In the case of physical incapacity, it is a Doctor, Nurse, Warden of sheltered accommodation or manager of a care/nursing home.
In the case of employment, the application must be certified by your employer or a person willing to certify that you are self-employed.
A Proxy Vote Application at a Particular Election
An application for one particular election does not require certification, however, the statutory timetable means receipt of applications must be within the dates published at the time of the election.
Any appointed proxy must be:-
- able and willing to vote on your behalf;
- living in the UK;
- a British Citizen or a citizen of the Commonwealth or of the Republic of Ireland;
- old enough to vote; and
- legally allowed to vote
A proxy may not vote at the same election for more than two people unless they are a close relative (husband, wife, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild) of the people they are voting for.
Your proxy does not 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 to sign the form.
Timescales for making absent vote applications prior to polling
The latest date for making a new application for a postal vote is 5.00pm eleven days before Polling Day.
The latest date for making a new application for a proxy vote is 5.00pm six days before Polling Day.
The latest date for amending an existing postal or postal proxy application is 5.00pm 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 5.00pm on the day of poll.
Anyone wishing to make an application for a postal or proxy vote can either download the appropriate form below or contact the Electoral Services Office on 01584 813277/3272 for a form and/or further information.
See these pages for related information:
- Postal Vote Application Form
- Proxy Vote Application Form - Particular Election
- Proxy Vote Application Form - Longer Term
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Subscribe to changes to this page here.Author: Eric Williams. Last Updated: 18/9/2007.
