Ways to Vote

To vote at an election, you need to be on the electoral list,  have you registered

Voting at a Polling Station

The traditional way to vote is to go along to your local polling station and vote in person. Each voter has a specific polling station serving their area. A poll card is sent to everyone on the electoral list - giving the address of the polling station. 

Absent Voting

Voting by post

• You can choose to vote by post, if you prefer not to go to your polling station. You do not have to give any reason for asking for a postal vote.
• Applications can be made for a single election, for a specified period or indefinitely.
• A postal vote can be sent to your home address or any other address you specify.
• Postal votes can be sent overseas, but you need to consider whether there would be time to receive and return your ballot paper by polling day.
• Postal voting papers are usually despatched about a week before polling day.
• If you have been sent a postal vote, you cannot vote in person at a polling station.
• Postal votes can be posted back to the council offices or returned by hand to either the council offices or polling station.
• Postal votes have to be received by the close of poll on polling day.
• Each applicant requires a separate form.  The form must be signed by the applicant.
• A postal voting application form is available from Electoral Services on the Helpline number given to the right of the page or from http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/

Voting by proxy

• This means appointing someone to vote for you in your polling station.
• You need to tell your proxy which candidate(s) you wish to vote for.
• You have to provide a reason to vote by proxy for a single election. You can only vote by proxy on an indefinite basis for reasons of physical incapacity or occupation, service, employment or attendance on a course.
• The Electoral Services Helpline can supply you with a form to apply to vote by proxy.
• Each applicant requires a separate form.  The form must be signed by the applicant.
• If you change your mind and wish to vote in person, you can still do so, providing that your proxy has not already voted on your behalf.
• If your proxy cannot get to your polling station, they can apply to vote by post. However, you will not then be able to vote in person.

Democratic Services

Email:
electoral.services
@thanet.gov.uk

Phone: 01843 577500

Fax: 01843 291640