If you will be away on polling day, at work or on holiday, are physically unable or just don't have the time to get to a polling station to vote in person, you can still exercise your democratic right to vote.
You may have moved house since the electoral register was drawn up and have not yet joined the register at your new address. For your convenience, you now have the right to vote by post. New arrangements allow anyone who is on the Register of Electors to apply for a postal vote at any election. Different rules apply in Northern Ireland.
You can ask for a one-off postal vote in advance of any election. Alternatively, you can ask for an automatic postal vote on a permanent basis or for a set period.
You can choose either to vote by post or to appoint someone else - a proxy - to vote on your behalf.
The easiest way to apply for a postal vote is online.
