Absent Voting
The facilities of Absent Voting, which cover both Postal and Proxy voting, exist to cater for electors who cannot attend at their polling place to vote on the day of an election. Voting by post involves the issue of your ballot paper to an address of your choice, and the marking, by you, of your vote on the ballot paper.
That ballot paper then requires to be returned by the close of poll on polling day. Voting by Proxy involves your appointment of another person to vote on your behalf. This can be anyone as long as they themselves are qualified to vote at the election in question and have not already been appointed as Proxy for more than 2 persons to whom they are not related.
Applications can be made for an indefinite period, a particular period or for a particular election only.
How to apply . . .
Option one - postal vote
To apply for a postal vote is very simple, you can ask for a postal vote just because you want to, no reason needs to be given. Your Ballot Papers will be sent to you by post, prior to an Election. Complete the papers and return them as directed.
Note that the Ballot Papers will not be issued immediately on receipt of your application and may be sent to you less than a week before an Election.
You need to be sure that you will receive your papers in time to complete them and send them back.
Option two - proxy vote
Have someone you trust cast your vote for you, either in person at the polling station, or if they have applied to be your Postal Proxy, by post.
Indefinite or particular period applications are because of physical incapacity or work or educational absences, which may mean the applicant is regularly away from home.
You may wish to apply for a particular election because you will be on holiday, on a business trip or are on a short-term hospital stay. These are just some of the acceptable circumstances but there are others and so if you are not sure you should contact the Electoral Registration Officer as soon as you know you will be unable to vote in person.
Forms are available for download from the downloads page.
At elections there are statutory closing dates for Absent Vote applications being received by the Electoral Registration Officer and so it is vital that you make the first contact as early as possible after the date of the Election is known. Application forms can be found in principal Council Offices, in libraries and at this office.