How to vote

How to vote

There are a few different ways that you can choose to vote in an election. For all of them, you must make sure that you are registered to vote.

Voting in person

When an elector registers to vote, they are automatically allocated as an 'in-person' voter until they apply for either a postal/proxy vote and their application is successful.

You can only vote if your name is on the 'Register of Electors'. You must be registered at least 12 working days before polling day.

Poll cards are delivered shortly before an election. You might not receive a poll card before a Parish Council election.

Each person who can vote in a household will get a poll card. It explains:

• the date of the election
• where their polling station is
• when they can vote

You don't need to take your poll card with you to vote.

To find out where your allocated polling station is for an election please visit our 'find your polling station' page.

If you cannot or do not wish to go to your polling station on election day, you can apply for a postal vote or, in certain cases, a proxy vote.

Important: To vote by post or by proxy, you need to be registered to vote. If you have not yet registered please visitwww.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Postal Voting

You must be registered to vote to arrange a postal vote.

Changes to postal voting

Changes to postal voting came into effect on 31 October 2023. These changes include:

• You can apply online to vote by post
• You now have to prove your identity as part of the application process. Both online and paper applications require ID verification.
• You can hold a postal vote for a maximum period of three years. You need to reapply at the end of that time.

If you have a long-term postal vote that you applied for before 31 October 2023, this will expire on 31 January 2026. Our Elections Team will contact you before your postal vote expires.

Apply for a postal vote

You can apply for a postal vote for a particular election, for a specified period, or for an indefinite period. Everyone who applies must use a separate form. You can apply for a postal vote online by clicking here.

• You will be required to provide your National Insurance number, as well as submitting a photograph of your wet ink signature. Please ensure the photograph of your signature is on plain, white paper and that the photograph is clear, electronic signatures will not be accepted.
• If you are unable to access the online application and need a paper application you can download this form and once completed return it to elections@stratford-dc.gov.uk.
• If you need a paper application form posted to you or need assistance to complete your application, please contact the Elections Team at elections@stratford-dc.gov.uk or call 01789 260208.

Once registered to vote by post you will be sent a postal vote pack containing your ballot paper(s) around 2 weeks before an election and you cannot vote in person at a polling station.

You must submit your application by 5pm, 11 working days before polling day . Please address them to the Electoral Registration Officer.

Changes to postal vote handling

From 2 May 2024, new rules on the handling of postal votes apply. We recommend that postal votes are returned to us via Royal Mail, in the pre-paid envelope included with the ballot papers, as soon as possible before polling day.

• Any postal vote not returned via Royal Mail must be handed to an authorised officer and be accompanied by a complete 'postal vote return' form.
• We can no longer accept postal votes left in the letterbox at the council offices.
• Any postal votes which are left at any council building without the 'postal vote return' form being completed must be rejected.
• You will not be allowed to hand in more than five postal ballot packs for other electors, in addition to your own (six in total).
• If a person hands in more than five postal ballot packs for other electors, all the postal votes (other than their own) will be rejected.

'Return of postal voting document' forms are available in the reception area of Stratford-on-Avon District Council.

Cancelling or amending your postal vote

If you want to cancel your postal vote you must put your request to cancel in writing.

Please email to elections@stratford-dc.gov.uk or send a letter to the Elections team at Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6HX.

The deadline for Electoral Services to receive a written cancellation of postal voting arrangement before an election is 5pm, 11 working days before polling day.

Any amendments to your postal vote must also be made by 5pm, 11 working days before polling day.

If you wish to change from a postal vote to a proxy vote, you must apply for a proxy vote before the postal voting cancellation deadline.

Postal Vote Signature Refresh

If you request to vote by post, you will be required to provide a signature and date of birth when you first apply.

When you are sent your postal vote for an election you are again required to provide your signature and date of birth on the postal voting statement. These 'personal identifiers' are checked electronically against those you provided on your original postal vote application form, to ensure that they match. This is to prevent someone else from using your vote. If they do not match, your vote cannot be counted. Your personal identifiers are always kept separate from your ballot paper, so no one knows how you have voted.

An important part of these security measures is providing a fresh specimen signature every five years, because your signature and circumstances might change over that time.

If you have a disability that means you either cannot provide a signature or sign in a consistent and distinctive way, please indicate this on the form and make sure the name and address of your helper is provided.

If you do not return the signature refresh form by the deadline, your existing postal vote facility will be cancelled and you will have to vote in person or make a new application.

This postal vote signature refresh exercise is normally undertaken every January.

Proxy Voting

Voting by proxy means that someone else will go to your polling station to cast your vote for you. Not everyone can have a proxy vote. You must have a particular reason for wanting one and it is likely that your application will have to be supported (signed) by someone else to say that your reason is a valid one.

You must be registered to vote before you apply for a proxy vote.

Eligibility criteria for Proxy voting

Permanent/Definite

• Due to attendance on an educational course
• If you are living overseas
• If you're a Crown Servant or British Council employee
• For employment reasons
• For disability reasons
• If you're in the Armed Forces

Particular Election (One-off application)

• For any reason to include those given above you do not need anyone to sign your form, but the application will only cover elections on one date. You may need to apply for future occasions.
• A common reason for applying for a proxy vote for a particular election is if you are away on holiday and unable to vote yourself.

You can apply to vote by proxy here Link - http://www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote

Emergency Proxy Voting

Current electors can apply for an emergency proxy vote if, after the normal proxy vote deadline, they find they cannot attend the polling station to vote. You can only apply for an emergency proxy vote if any of the following apply to you:

• Urgent business reasons e.g. the elector is called away on business on the day of poll; or
• Urgent medical reasons e.g. the elector is in hospital
• 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

The application must be attested by the elector's employer or by a medical professional as appropriate. Completed forms must returned before 17:00 on the day of poll. If approved, the proxy must vote at the elector's polling station.

Emergency proxy application's cannot be completed online currently and a paper form will need to be completed and ideally emailed to elections@stratford-dc.gov.uk to ensure they reach us in time or posted to the Council Offices. Please find the paper applications below and remember these can only be applied for if the normal proxy vote deadline has passed.

Emergency proxy vote form due to employment

Emergency proxy vote form due to a medical emergency or disability

Emergency proxy vote form based on photo ID

Further Information

For further information, please contact Election Services:

• Email: elections@stratford-dc.gov.uk
• Telephone: 01789 260208