Applications can be made for a single election, for a specified period or permanently. You can apply for a postal or proxy at any time until 11 days before an election (except in a medical emergency when you can apply to vote by proxy up until 5pm on election day), provided you do not already have any absent voting arrangements in place.

The deadline for making changes to or cancelling existing arrangements is also 11 days.

You do not need to wait for an election to be announced to apply to vote by post, you can apply at any time throughout the year provided you already have an entry on the register of electors.

You cannot sign an application on behalf of another elector even if you have Power of Attorney.

A postal vote can be sent to your home address or any other address specified by you. If your application is successful you will be sent a letter confirming this.

Postal votes can be sent overseas, but you need to consider whether there would be time for you to receive and return your ballot paper by polling day. If you live overseas permanently you will need to register as an overseas elector.

Download an application to register as an overseas voter.

Postal votes are usually dispatched 10 days before the date of the election. If you are going to be out of the country during the run up to an election and would like a postal vote, please check with the elections office to discuss the practicalities as it may not be possible to receive and return the paperwork in time for your vote to be counted.

If you have been sent a postal vote, you cannot vote in person at a polling station.

Postal votes can be posted back to the council offices or returned by hand to the council offices or polling station before the close of poll. If you have not received the postal vote or it have mislaid it, please contact the elections office, as a replacement can be issued from the Electoral Services office up until 5pm on Polling day. In these circumstances proof of identity will need to be provided in order to obtain a replacement.

Postal votes have to be received at the council or polling station by the close of poll on polling day.

Download an application form to vote by post.