Absent voting
The Government introduced new legislation on 1 January 2007 to
increase the security of absent voting.
There are three types of absent voting arrangements that can be
applied for; Postal voting, Proxy voting, and Postal Proxy
voting.
Postal voting
Once you are on the current Register of Electors, you can choose
to vote by post instead of at your polling station. This is the
method of voting where your ballot papers are sent to you, and
which can be returned free of charge (in the UK) using any post
box.
The new legislation referred to above means that every new
Postal Voting application must include the applicant's signature
and date of birth to be accepted.
If you would like to apply for a postal vote please contact the
Electoral Services helpline on 020 7361 3444, email elect@rbkc.gov.uk or
alternatively you can download an application form from
About My Vote
However, if an elector is unable to sign in a consistent or
distinctive way due to disability, they may be granted an exemption
from having to do so. Please contact us on 020 7361 3444 or
elect@rbkc.gov.uk
for an exemption form.
Please note that you should not wait for an election to be
called before you send us your completed form. Postal and proxy
applications should be sent to us immediately.
Postal ballot papers can only be sent out around a week before
Election Day. You should ensure that they are sent to an address
where you can receive them, and also consider whether this gives
you enough time to complete and return them. It may be more
practical for you to vote by proxy, which is appointing someone to
vote on your behalf.
Once you have a postal vote
If you are registered to vote by post you will not then be able
to vote in person at the polling station. Polling station staff
will not issue you with a ballot paper under any circumstances.
You can cancel your postal voting arrangement by writing to us
at Electoral Services, The Town Hall, Hornton Street, London, W8
7NX.
Proxy voting
If you cannot attend your allocated polling station, and voting
by post is not practical or appropriate for you, you can apply to
vote by proxy. This is simply appointing someone to vote on your
behalf. Your proxy should be someone who qualifies to vote in the
election themselves (for example over 18 and a British, Irish or
Commonwealth citizen for a General Election), and they cannot be
proxy for more than two people who are not family members.
Proxy voting by post
Your proxy can be anywhere in the United Kingdom. They can apply
to vote, as your proxy, by post.
We do not provide proxy or postal proxy application forms to be
downloaded due to the frequent confusion as to how to complete the
applications correctly. Please contact us for a form and guidance
on how to complete it.
Contact Electoral Services on 020 7361 3444 or email elect@rbkc.gov.uk