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Part of Vote in UK elections
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Proxy voting application forms

If you can’t vote in person, someone can vote for you. You can tell them who to vote for. This is called a proxy vote.

Updates to this page

From:
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, The Electoral Commission and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Published:
1 March 2017
Last updated:
30 April 2026
Show all updates

  1. Added form: Apply to vote by emergency proxy if you are being detained for criminal conduct in a mental health hospital (Scottish Parliamentary and local elections only).

  2. To get a proxy vote for the 7 May 2026 elections, your electoral registration office must receive your application before 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026.

  3. If you are registered to vote and want to vote by proxy in the 5 May 2022 elections, you must submit a proxy vote application form that is received by your local Electoral Registration Office before 5pm on Tuesday 26 April.

  4. Added two forms: apply to vote by emergency proxy due to a disability and apply to vote by emergency proxy due to employment.

  5. You can no longer apply to register to vote by proxy for the polls on 6 May 2021. You can still apply for an emergency proxy subject to certain criteria.

  6. If you are registered to vote and want to vote by proxy in the 6 May 2021 elections, you must submit a proxy vote application form that is received by your local Electoral Registration Office before 5pm on Tuesday 27 April.

  7. Information added to explain that it's now too late to apply by poxy for the 3 May elections.

  8. First published.

Other ways to apply 

You can apply online to vote by proxy.

If you are registered to vote in Northern Ireland

The rules are different if you want to apply for a proxy vote in Northern Ireland.

Apply for a proxy vote in Northern Ireland.

Before you apply

You can ask anyone to act as your proxy, as long as they are registered to vote and it’s for a type of election they’re allowed to vote in.

Find out more about voting as a proxy

How to apply for a proxy vote

There are different forms, depending on why you can’t get to the polling station. Make sure you complete the right one.

You may be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote if the deadline to apply for a proxy vote has passed.

Where to send your form

Send the completed form to your electoral registration office.

Proxy voting application forms

Emergency proxy voting application forms

You may be able to apply for an emergency proxy if the proxy vote deadline has passed.

Application to vote by emergency proxy due to the availability of your photo ID (PDF, 196KB).

Contents

This page is Part of Vote in UK elections

  1. Step 1 Check if you can vote

    1. Check which elections you can vote in

  2. Step 2 Register to vote

    You’ll need to be registered to vote to take part in elections and referendums. You’ll need to register again if you change your name, address or nationality.

    1. Register to vote - apply online
    1. Register to vote - apply by post

  3. Step 3 Decide if you want to vote in person, by post, or by proxy

    1. Find out the different ways you can vote

  4. Step 4 Get ready to vote in person

    1. Check what ID you need to vote

    If you do not have photo ID that allows you to vote, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (or an Electoral Identity Card in Northern Ireland) .

    1. Apply for a photo ID to vote

    Contact your electoral registration office to find your polling station or to find out what to do if you have accessibility needs.

    1. Contact your electoral registration office

  5. or Apply for a postal vote

    In England, Scotland or Wales:

    1. Apply in Northern Ireland - by post only
    1. Find out more about voting by post

  6. or Apply for a proxy vote

    In England, Scotland or Wales:

    1. Apply in Northern Ireland - by post only
    1. Find out more about voting by proxy - including when you must apply by

  7. or Get ready to vote as a proxy

    1. Check what ID you need to vote

    Contact the electoral registration office of the person you are a proxy for to find their polling station or to find out what to do if you have accessibility issues.

    1. Contact the electoral registration office

  8. Step 5 Vote in person

    1. Vote in person

  9. or Vote by post

    1. Vote by post

  10. or Vote as a proxy for someone else

    1. Vote as a proxy for someone else