Nominate somebody to vote on your behalf

If you are unable to go to the polling station on polling day you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote on your behalf and they are called a 'proxy'.  If you would like someone to vote as your proxy, you need to choose a person you trust to go and vote for you.

You can apply for a proxy vote for one particular election, for a specified period of time or for the maximum period of time for the specific election type.

Everyone is entitled to a proxy vote at a particular election but you will be required to provide a reason for voting by proxy. The form you need to complete depends on the reason why you need a proxy vote.

You can have a proxy if

• you are unable to attend in person to vote
• you have a disability
• you are away on an educational course
• you are away for work
• you are registered as an overseas voter
• you work overseas for the British Council or as a Crown servant
• you are serving overseas in the Armed Forces
• you are registered as an anonymous elector

You can download the relevant application from Apply to vote by proxy, complete it and return it to us using the contact details below. 

For UK parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner elections ONLY you can apply online using following link https://www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.  You cannot apply online if you are an anonymous voter or are applying for a proxy vote for the reason of employment, education or because you have a disability. You must complete a paper application form.

Please remember that the closing date for new applications is 5pm, 6 working days before the day of poll.

Someone can be your proxy if they are:

• 16 or over for Senedd and local council elections, or 18 or over for UK Parliament elections
• registered to vote
• able to get to your polling station on polling day
• eligible to vote in the election

At UK parliamentary elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, someone can only be a proxy for two people based in the UK. If they are acting as proxy for people living overseas, you can act as proxy for up to four people but only two of these can be based in the UK.

At Senedd and local council elections, someone can only be a proxy for their close relatives, plus two other people.

How to vote by proxy

Emergency Proxy

In certain circumstances, where you have an emergency that means you cannot go to the polling station in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy up to 5pm on the day of the poll.

This must be something that you were not aware of before the normal proxy vote deadline:

• You have a medical emergency
• You are away for work
• Your photographic ID is lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged (only relevant for Parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner elections)

Application forms are available to download from Emergency proxy vote | Electoral Commission.