Voting by post or proxy
Arranging for a postal vote or for someone to vote on your behalf (a proxy), allows you to vote in an election if you are unable to vote in person at the polling station on Polling Day. For example, you might be on holiday or at work, or you might have a medical condition or disability which makes it difficult to attend the polling station.
Changes to postal and proxy voting from 31 October 2023
The Elections Act 2022 has changed the way we will vote in the UK. The most notable change being the requirement to produce photo ID when voting in person at a polling station.
However, the way we apply for a postal vote, or a proxy has also changed. Applications will require identity verification – both online and paper applications now include a requirement for the applicant's identity to be verified.
Postal vote
You can apply to vote by post if you are unable to go to your polling station on election day, or if you simply prefer to vote by post. A few weeks before Polling Day you will receive a postal ballot pack that will include your ballot paper/s and a postal voting statement that you will need to sign and return to us in our pre-paid envelope along with your clearly marked ballot papers, by 10pm on Polling Day.
Previously, anyone wishing to apply to vote by post was required to provide their date of birth and signature, which needed to be renewed every 5 years.
From 31 October 2023, postal vote applicants are now required to provide their national insurance number as well as a date of birth and signature. Postal vote applications will expire after 3 years, and a fresh application will have to be submitted.
The quickest way is to apply online. Your identity will be checked automatically and if successfully verified, the Electoral Services team will be notified no later than the following day. Should the application fail to verify you will be asked to provide supporting evidence to confirm your identity.
If you are unable to apply online you can still download a paper version from GOV.UK or contact the Electoral Services team directly and we can send you one via email or through the post.
If you want to email us your completed form, you need to print it, sign it by hand and scan it – we cannot accept digital signatures.
Please make sure when completing your form both online or a paper version you include your national insurance number, your date of birth and signature, otherwise you will be asked to provide additional supporting evidence to confirm your identity. This will delay your application and could result in your identity not being confirmed early enough for your postal vote to be issued in time for the next scheduled election. You need to apply for a postal vote by 5pm on the eleventh working day before Polling Day.
Postal votes returned by hand for the Mayor of London and London Assembly elections on 2 May 2024
For elections on or after 2 May 2024, there will be limits to the number of postal votes that can be handed in and restrictions on who the individual handing in the limited number of postal votes can be for each poll taking place. This will apply in both polling stations and council buildings.
By law you can only hand in your own postal vote, and those of up to 5 others.
You can personally hand postal votes to a member of staff authorised to receive them at Kensington Town Hall between the hours of 9am to 5pm. Or on polling day, you can also hand postal votes in at a polling station within the borough. You will need to complete a short form when handing in postal votes.
You can still mail your postal votes through the Royal Mail system. However, they must reach the Returning Officer by 10pm on polling day.
Proxy voting
If you are unable to go in person to your polling station, you can also vote by proxy. This is where someone you trust votes on your behalf. Once appointed, on Polling Day they will attend the polling station at which you would normally vote at and cast your vote.
There is a limit to how many people a voter can act as a proxy for. Previously, a person could act as a proxy for an unlimited number of close relatives and two other people. Under the new rules, voters are limited to acting as a proxy for up to 4 people, of which no more than 2 can be based in the UK – that is not overseas voters.
To apply for a proxy, you must complete a form and give a reason you cannot get to your polling station in person. The form you need to complete depends on the reason you need a proxy. This may be because you are going to be on holiday, you are away for work, you have a physical condition which means you cannot get to your polling station on Polling Day, or you are an overseas voter.
For more information and links to the different forms available to download visit GOV.UK or contact the Electoral Services team directly and we can send you the correct form via email or through the post.
The quickest way is to apply online. Your identity will be checked automatically and if successfully verified, the Electoral Services team will be notified no later than the following day. Should the application fail to verify you will be asked to provide supporting evidence to confirm your identity. You need to apply for a proxy by 5pm on the sixth working day before Polling Day.
Postal proxy
A postal proxy is someone appointed as your proxy who is unable to attend the polling station in person.
A few weeks before Polling Day the proxy is sent a postal ballot pack that will include a ballot paper/s and a postal voting statement. They will need to sign the statement and return it to us in our pre-paid envelope along with clearly marked ballot papers, by 10pm on Polling Day.
As well an elector completing a proxy application, the proxy must complete a postal proxy application containing their signature and date of birth. A postal proxy arrangement can only be put in place if both applications reach us by 5pm, 11 working days before Polling Day.
Please contact the Electoral Services team directly if you require a postal proxy application form.
Emergency proxy
In certain circumstances, where you have an emergency that means you cannot vote in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy.
You can apply for an emergency proxy if:
- You have a medical emergency
- You are away for work
- Your photo ID is lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged, and the deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate has passed. This form can also be used if your Anonymous Elector’s Document is lost stolen, destroyed, or damaged.
Please contact the Electoral Services team directly if you require an emergency proxy.
An emergency proxy application can be requested for these reasons if you missed the originally proxy application deadline of 11 working days before Polling Day and up to 5pm on Polling Day.