Nominate a proxy to vote on your behalf

On this page:

Your nominated proxy will need to have their own photographic ID with them when they visit their polling station, for more see Voter ID - Bring photo ID to vote

Appointing a proxy means you choose someone else to vote on your behalf. This person then goes to their polling station and casts your vote for you.

This person must be able to attend the polling station where you normally go to vote. If you need to appoint a proxy from outside of your local area, please contact us using the details as the bottom of our page

If you have already appointed a proxy but then decide to vote in person, you can do so provided your proxy has not already voted for you.

You would usually appoint a one-off proxy for a specific election, but in some circumstances you can appoint a permanent proxy for all future elections.

Who can act as proxy

The person you nominate as your proxy must be:

registered to vote
at least 18 years old
eligible to vote at that type of election
not disqualified from voting

There are new limits to the number of people someone may act as proxy for, they will only be able to act as a proxy for up to 2 people living in the UK (or a maximum of 4 people, with 2 people living in the UK and 2 people registered as living overseas).

One-off proxy

Anyone can appoint a one-off proxy to vote on their behalf for an election on a specific date.

Download, print and complete the form to vote by proxy at a particular election

Print and complete the form, and send it back to Electoral Services using the address at the bottom of this page.

We are also able to accept completed and scanned forms via email to electoralservices@nfdc.gov.uk.

Once your application has been processed, confirmation will be sent to both you and your proxy.

Permanent proxy

Use one of these forms if you won't be able to go to the polling station for the foreseeable future, or a long period of time.

The form you need to complete depends on the reason why you need a proxy vote:

Print and complete the forms, and send it back to Electoral Services using the address at the bottom of this page. You will need to provide a signed declaration which you will find at the back of the form.

We are also able to accept completed and scanned forms via email to electoralservices@nfdc.gov.uk.

Once your application has been processed, confirmation will be sent to both you and your proxy.

Overseas or service voter

You can also apply online through GOV.UK (Opens in new window) if you live overseas or are a service voter.

Emergency proxy

If the proxy vote deadline has passed you may be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote if any of the following apply:

you cannot vote in person because of a medical emergency or disability
you cannot vote in person because of your employment
the photo ID you were planning on using to vote has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed
you've not yet received a new or replacement photo ID you've ordered

You have until 5pm on the day of the election to apply.

Fill in a paper form to:

Download the form to apply to vote by emergency proxy based on your employment

Download the form to apply to vote by emergency proxy based on a medical emergency or disability

Download the form to apply to vote by emergency proxy because you do not have an available photo ID

Then send to electoralservices@nfdc.gov.uk.

Help with signing

You must sign your application form yourself. No-one else may sign it for you.

If you find it difficult to sign your name consistently, for example if you have a disability, download the proxy and postal waiver application form below.

Download the proxy and postal waiver application form

Print and complete this form. Send both this and your postal or proxy vote application form back to Electoral Services using the address at the bottom of this page.

Overseas voters

If you're an overseas voter, you will need to include the address where you were last registered to vote in the UK on the application form.

There is a section on the form for your correspondence address. Include your overseas address in this section.

Find out how register to vote if you are a member of HM Armed Forces or living overseas.

Contact us

Send all completed forms to the address below.

Electoral Services
New Forest District Council
Appletree Court
Beaulieu Road
Lyndhurst
SO43 7PA

Email: electoralservices@nfdc.gov.uk

Phone: 023 8028 5445