Today at 5pm is the last date to apply to vote by proxy in England, Scotland or Wales, as the deadline is six working days before election day.
A proxy vote allows someone to vote on your behalf.
In Northern Ireland, 14 working days before election day at 5pm is the deadline to apply to vote by proxy.
It will be a historic day in history in which voters decide who will be their leader.
So, with the election fast approaching, what should you do if you will not be in the country on July 4 and want to vote?
How to vote in the general election by post and by proxy
You can still vote in a general election even if you are not in the country (provided you are registered to vote in the first place) so fear not. Here's how to do it:
By post (England, Wales and Scotland)
The deadline to register to vote by post was 5pm on Wednesday, June 19.
Postal votes were sent out on June 20 if you were registered as a postal voter by June 4, or on June 24 if your postal vote application was approved after June 4.
Voting in Northern Ireland
There’s a different process to apply to vote by post or proxy if you live in Northern Ireland and will be abroad temporarily on election day.
If you will not have time to receive and return your postal ballot in Northern Ireland before going abroad you’ll need to vote by proxy. You cannot apply to have your postal vote sent outside the UK.
By proxy
A proxy vote can be used when you cannot vote in person, meaning you can ask someone to vote on your behalf.
Someone can be a proxy for only two people based in the UK. If they act as a proxy for people living overseas, they can do so for up to four people but only two can be based in the UK.
Someone can be your proxy if they are:
- 18 or over.
- registered to vote.
- able to get to your polling station on polling day.
- eligible to vote in the election.
You can apply online here.
You must apply by:
5pm, six working days before election day in England, Scotland or Wales.
5pm, 14 working days before election day in Northern Ireland.
However, there’s a different way to apply:
-
for the Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament), Scottish Parliament and local elections in Scotland and Wales using a paper form
You can learn more about proxy voting on the Electoral Commission’s website.
