Changes to postal and proxy voting came into force on 31 October 2023, and apply to all elections in England, UK parliament general elections and by-elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in Wales, and UK parliamentary general elections in Scotland. Changes to postal voting and online absent applications do not apply in Northern Ireland. The changes include:
- A requirement for voters to reapply for a postal vote after three years.
- The introduction of an online absent voting application process.
- A limit on the number of people for whom someone may act as a proxy.
This document answers frequently answered questions about the changes to postal and proxy votes. There is more information on the Electoral Commission’s website.
How do you apply for a postal or proxy vote?
Voters can still apply for a postal and proxy vote by completing an application form and sending this to their local Electoral Registration Office. Application forms for postal and proxy voting are available on the Electoral Commission’s website.
With the changes, voters will have the option to apply for an absent vote through a new online system provided by the UK Government for UK parliamentary general elections in England, Scotland and Wales, local government election in England, and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales.
This will be a similar process as registering to vote, and voters will need to provide their National Insurance number, as well as their signature. The UK Government is responsible for delivering and launching this new system, rather than the Commission.
If a voter needs their application attesting or if they are applying for an emergency proxy vote, they will not be able to apply online.
What is attesting?
If a voter cannot prove their identity by providing documentary evidence, they can ask someone they know to confirm their identity.
What are the identity checks when applying?
Voters will need to submit their full name, signature, date of birth and their National Insurance number for checking if applying for a postal or proxy vote under the new measures.
When applying online for a postal vote, do voters need to provide their signature?
Yes, voters will need to provide and upload an image of their signature when applying for a postal vote online.
Will voters have to reapply for a postal vote if they are already registered?
Voters who hold a postal vote before 31 October 2023 will not need to reapply before 31 January 2026.
All postal and proxy vote applications received on or after this date will be subject to the new rules and will require an ID verification check. Applications missing this information must be resubmitted.
Existing long term postal and proxy voters will be notified by their local electoral registration office when they need to reapply, before their expiry on 31 January 2026. This will include the date on which their existing postal vote entitlement is due to end, and information about how to make a fresh application if they wish to do so.
Those who hold postal votes for devolved elections, such as the Scottish Parliament and Senedd elections, will not need to reapply for a postal vote.
How many people can act as a proxy?
Voters will now only be able to act as a proxy for up to two people living in the UK (a maximum of four people, with two people living in the UK and two people registered as living overseas) in elections where the changes apply.
Will postal and proxy voters need to show photo ID in order to vote with the new measures?
Voters will not need to show photo ID in order to apply by post or proxy. Although anyone acting as a proxy to vote on someone’s behalf will need to show their photo ID at the polling station in elections where the ID requirement applies.
Will identity checks in online absent voting applications be a barrier to voting?
It is important that voters have confidence in the absent voting system as a safe and secure method of voting. Councils, Electoral Registration Officers and the Electoral Commission are working to ensure people are aware of the changes and are supported if they wish to apply for a postal or proxy vote. Voters can be assured that the identity checks when applying for an absent vote online are the same requirement when registering to vote in a polling station.