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Ways to vote

Voting by proxy

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. Alternatively, once they've been appointed as your proxy, 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 provide 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 have a reason for a long-term proxy vote as described below.

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

To request a paper application form, email us at postal.votes@southwark.gov.uk. Completed paper application forms should be returned to:

Electoral Services
Southwark Council
PO Box 64529
London
SE1P 5LX

Long-term proxy vote

In certain circumstances, you can apply for a long-term proxy vote. This means your proxy will be able to vote for you on an ongoing basis.

"If you are registered as a British citizen living overseas, are an Armed Service voter or wish to vote anonymously, please 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, contact us by emailing 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, contact us by emailing 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 Electoral Services at postal.votes@southwark.gov.uk. Please tell us your full name and address, and the date from which you wish to cancel your proxy vote.

Emergency proxy vote

In certain circumstances, you can apply for an emergency proxy up to 5pm on polling day. This must be something that 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 because of 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, contact us by emailing emergency.proxy@southwark.gov.uk.

Page last updated: 04 July 2024

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