Vote by proxy
How it works
Proxy voting enables you to appoint a person to vote on your behalf.
If you want to vote by proxy, contact us as soon as possible for an application form or download one.
You may appoint someone to vote on your behalf if you are unable to go to the polling station for a particular election. For example, if:
- you are away on holiday
- you have a physical condition that means you cannot go to the polling station on election day
- your employment or educational circumstance means that you cannot go to the polling station on election day
- you are a British citizen living overseas or you are a crown servant or a member of Her Majesty's Armed Forces
Your proxy must be eligible to vote and they cannot vote on behalf of more than two people unless they are closely related to them.
Your proxy can vote on your behalf in two ways, by going to your designated polling station or by voting by post (known as postal proxy).
If you appoint a proxy, you may still vote in person, as long as your proxy hasn't already voted for you.
You cannot vote in person if your proxy has already arranged to vote for you by post.
If you act as a proxy for an elector, you will also need to show your ID but will not have to provide ID for the person you are acting as a proxy for.
The Elections Act 2022 will change the current proxy voting process.
Subject to secondary legislation, the Elections Act will say that you will only be able to act as a proxy for a maximum of four people.
Of these four, the maximum number who can be ‘domestic electors’ (voters living in the UK) is 2.
Further information on the Elections Act 2022 can be found on the Elections Act page.
Postal proxy votes
A postal proxy vote is where an appointed proxy is able to vote on an elector’s behalf without having to visit the elector’s allocated polling station
A postal proxy arrangement can only be put in place if the following applications reach us by 5pm, 11 working days before an election.
- A proxy application containing the elector’s signature and date of birth.
- A postal proxy application containing the proxy’s signature and date of birth.
Returning your proxy or postal proxy application
Completed applications can be:
- emailed to elections@havering.gov.uk
- sent by post to Havering Town Hall
- hand delivered to Havering Town Hall
Cancelling or amending your proxy vote
If you no longer wish to have a proxy vote, you need to let us know in writing, providing your full name, full address and you must sign the letter.
If you wish to amend your proxy vote, you will need to submit a new proxy application.
The deadline to cancel or change an existing proxy vote is 5pm on the eleventh working day before an election or referendum.
The deadline to apply for a new proxy vote is 5pm on sixth working day before an election or referendum.