Absent voting

The Elections Act recently introduced changes to the absent voting process. An identity verification step is now required when you apply. 

Anyone who is registered to vote can apply for a postal vote.

You can apply for a postal vote for one of the following:

• a single election on a specific date
• a specific period if you want to vote in England, Scotland, or Wales
• permanently

The quickest and easiest way to apply for a postal vote is online on the GOV.UK website.

Before you start

You’ll need:

• the address where you are registered to vote
• your National Insurance number or other identity documents, for example a passport
• a photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper - you will need to upload this

Other ways to apply

If you cannot apply online, you can download and fill in a postal vote application form and send it via post or email to our Electoral Services team. 

The signature you give on your application form must match the one you use when you vote by post, so it’s important you sign the same way each time.

If you can’t provide a signature

If you can’t sign the application form or can’t sign in the same way every time (e.g., because of a disability or physical impairment), you may be able to apply for a ‘waiver’. 

This removes the requirement to provide a signature when completing your postal vote. You can request this as part of your application.

Postal vote renewal

You can hold a postal vote for a maximum period of three years. You need to reapply at the end of that time. We will write to you when your postal vote is due to expire.

You are able to appoint someone you trust to vote on your behalf, this is known as a proxy.

You can apply for a proxy vote for one of the following:

• a single election on a specific date
• a specific period if you want to vote in England, Scotland or Wales
• permanently (certain circumstances only).

There is now a limit to the amount of people someone can be a proxy for. A person can act as a proxy for two people. If you vote on behalf of UK voters who live overseas, you can act as a proxy for up to four people (but only two of those can live in the UK).

You and your appointed proxy must be registered to vote your appointed proxy must vote in your local polling station. If they are unable to attend your polling station on the day of poll, a postal proxy vote may be set up.

The quickest and easiest way to apply for a proxy vote is online on the GOV.UK website.

Before you start

Ask your proxy’s permission before you apply.

You’ll need:

• your National Insurance number or any other identity document, for example a birth certificate
• the address where your proxy is registered to vote
• contact details for your proxy
• a photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper - this will need to be uploaded

Other ways to apply

If you cannot apply online, you can download and fill in a proxy vote application form and send to our Electoral Services team via email or by post.

To avoid any issues with the sending and returning of a postal vote before the close of poll at an election, we recommend you set up a proxy vote.

We’ll confirm that your application has been successful but there may not always be enough time to do this just before an election. 

We may be in contact with you if there was a problem with your application.

If you want to cancel your postal vote, we must receive a request in writing stating:

• your name
• your address
• that you want to cancel your postal vote

Email electoral.services@n-somerset.gov.uk if you wish to cancel your postal vote.