How to vote

If you're registered to vote but cannot get to the polling station yourself, you can nominate someone you trust to vote on your behalf. This means the person is your proxy.

Your proxy can go to your polling station to cast your vote for you. Or they can apply to vote for you by post.

Anyone can be your proxy provided that they are:

• registered to vote
• willing to vote on your behalf
• eligible to vote in the same type of election as you
• not already proxy on behalf of more than four voters (of which no more than two may be on behalf of people to are not overseas or Armed Service voters)

You must give a reason why you cannot get to your polling station in person. Your proxy vote will only be in place for a specific election unless you apply for a long-term proxy vote.

How to apply

Visit the GOV.UK website to apply for a proxy vote. You can apply online by 5pm, at least 6 working days before polling day.

To request a paper application form, email postal.votes@southwark.gov.uk. Return the completed paper form to:

Electoral Services

Southwark Council

PO Box 64529

London

SE1P 5LX

Long-term proxy vote

Some people can apply for a long-term proxy vote. You may be able to apply if:

• you're a British citizen living overseas
• you're a service voter
• you'd like to vote anonymously

Visit the GOV.UK website to apply for a long-term proxy vote.

If you want to apply for a long-term proxy due to a disability or employment reasons, email postal.votes@southwark.gov.uk. 

Postal proxy vote

If the person you have appointed as your proxy lives outside of Southwark or cannot travel to your polling station, they can apply to cast your vote by post. This is called a postal proxy vote. 

The deadline to apply for a postal proxy vote is 5pm, 11 working days before the poll.

If your proxy needs to apply to vote by post, email postal.votes@southwark.gov.uk.

Change or cancel a proxy vote

To change an existing proxy vote or postal proxy vote, you must return a new proxy vote application form by 5pm, 11 working days before the poll.

To cancel your proxy vote, email postal.votes@southwark.gov.uk. In the email you should include:

• your full name and address
• the date from which you want to cancel your proxy vote

Emergency proxy vote

You can apply for an emergency proxy up to 5pm on polling day if you have an emergency you were not aware of before the ordinary proxy vote deadline, such as:

• you have a medical emergency
• you learn you cannot go to the polling station for work reasons
• the form of accepted photographic identification that you were intending to use to vote in person at the polling station has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, or has not yet been received if applied for recently

To apply for an emergency proxy vote, email emergency.proxy@southwark.gov.uk.