Voting by proxy

If you are unable to vote in person at your polling station, you can ask someone else to cast your vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy vote.

Who can act as a proxy

The person who can act as your proxy:

• Must be registered to vote
• Can’t vote on behalf of more than:
  • Two people, if registered domestically, or
  • Four people (two registered overseas, two registered domestically)

If you nominate a proxy, the person you choose to vote on your behalf will need to show their own photo ID.

The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote or apply to vote by post as your proxy.

Applying for a proxy vote

You must already be registered to vote in order to apply to vote by proxy.

There are new rules regarding the application process, these rules were introduced by the Elections Act 2022. You must provide your National Insurance Number to verify your identity when applying to vote by proxy.

Applications to vote by proxy will be rejected where a National Insurance Number is not provided, and you will need to reapply providing the required information.

If you do not have a National Insurance Number, you will need to explain why. We will contact you to supply alternative documents that will help us verify your application.

Evidence for proxy vote applications without a National Insurance Number

In some cases, we are unable to process your application to vote by proxy because we have not been able to confirm your identity, which we are required to do by law. If this happens, we need you to provide documentary evidence. Until this evidence is received, we are unable to process your request to vote by proxy.

There are three categories of evidence. You will need to provide either:

• One document from type 1, or
• Three documents from type 2, or
• One document from type 2 AND two documents from type 3, or
• Four documents from type 3

Type 1:

• Any current passport
• Biometric residence permit (UK issued only)
• Valid EEA ID card
• Photocard part of a current driving licence (UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands, full or provisional)
• Northern Ireland Electoral ID card

Type 2:

• UK only - Old style paper version of a current driving licence
• UK and Crown Dependencies only:
  • Current photo driving licence
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage or Civil Partnership certificate
  • Firearms licence
  • Police bail sheet
  • Adoption Certificate

Type 3:

• Issued in the last 12 months - Mortgage statement
• Issued in the last 3 months:
  • Bank or Building Society statement
  • Bank or Building Society account opening confirmation letter
  • Credit card statement
  • Financial statement e.g. pension or endowment
  • Council Tax statement
  • Utility bill
  • P45 or P60 statement eg Child Benefit, Pension
  • Central or local government agency, or local government department giving entitlement eg from DWP, Job Centre Plus or HMRC

You can take a photo of your document(s) with a digital device (smartphone/tablet), use a scanner or upload an existing digital copy.  All files must be in PNG, GIF, HEIC or PDF format with a maximum file size of 20MB.

Apply to vote by proxy online

 Apply online at GOV.UK. The following information is required:

• Full name
• Address including postcode
• National insurance number
• Date of birth
• Handwritten signature (see uploading your signature photo for further guidance)

Request a paper application to vote by proxy

If you are unable to apply online, you can download an application form. The paper application requires the same information and you will still need to provide your National Insurance Number. This can be found on your National Insurance card, benefit letter, payslip or P60.

• Apply for a proxy vote for disability
• Apply for a proxy vote for employment
• Apply for a proxy vote for education  

If you do not have a printer you can contact Electoral Services so we can send you a paper application. Email electoral.services@richmond.gov.uk or telephone 020 8891 7775 for more information.

The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on the 6th working day before an election.

Application deadlines

The deadline for applications for a proxy vote is 5pm, six working days before an election. However, if you are already registered to vote by post, the deadline to change from a postal vote to a proxy vote is 5pm, 11 working days before an election.

Emergency proxy

You can apply for an emergency proxy if you find that you can't get to your polling station on election day. This is for exceptional circumstances when the proxy deadline has already passed.

Reasons for emergency proxy could be:

• A medical condition or illness - apply for a medical emergency proxy form
• Your job means you can't get to the polling station on the day - apply for an occupation, service or employment emergency proxy form
• If you do not have an acceptable form of photo ID and it is too late to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate - apply for an emergency proxy based on photo ID

The deadline to apply for an emergency proxy is by 5pm on election day. 

Contact

Email electoral.services@richmond.gov.uk or telephone 020 8891 7775 for more information.