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Proxy Vote

You may still be able to vote even if you are unable to get to your polling station on election day. Providing there is a good reason why you cannot vote in person, you can apply for a proxy vote. (A proxy is someone who votes on your behalf). For example:

  • If you will be away on holiday (in the UK or abroad)
  • If your work takes you away from home
  • If you are ill or in hospital

Some people qualify to vote by proxy for a longer period of time, not just at one particular election. 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.

To apply for a Proxy Vote please telephone our Contact Centres on 01246 242424 or submit an enquiry form 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, parent, grandparent, brother, sister 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. Otherwise the proxy will need to sign as well.

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 you can apply for a postal proxy vote.

Make sure you have signed and dated the form. In the case of an application to vote by proxy at all future elections, you should also ensure that the form is countersigned in the appropriate place. You should post the form (or take it by hand) to the Electoral Registration Officer at the Council Offices, Sherwood Lodge, Bolsover, Derbyshire S44 6NF without delay. You should receive a letter to tell you whether your application has been accepted.

If you have applied to vote by proxy and your application is accepted, your proxy will receive a "proxy paper" which allows him or her to vote on your behalf on election day.

Last Updated on Monday, 20 December 2010 16:36

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