If you're registered to vote, you will be sent a polling card before an election takes place. The polling card will tell you at which polling station you are able to vote. If you are unable to go to the polling station yourself you can apply to vote by post or proxy.

Postal votes 

You can decide to vote by post on a temporary or permanent basis without having to provide a reason.  

Postal votes are now valid for a maximum of three years, then a full reapplication is needed, instead refreshing signature every five years. All applications now need to include your National Insurance number.
 
Existing long term proxy voters have also been invited to reapply by 31 January. We can only accept paper applications for long term proxy applications
 

You can apply online or download the postal vote form from the Electoral Commission website. Alternatively, you can contact electoral services on 01925 442184 or at elections@warrington.gov.uk and we'll help you apply online or apply for a postal vote.

If we receive a postal application by 29 March, we will post your postal vote first class on 18 April.

Applications received from 30 March up until the deadline of 17 April, 5pm, will be sent first class on 22 April. 

Proxy votes

You can ask for someone to vote on your behalf if you are unable to get to the polling station. This is called voting by proxy.

If you want to vote by proxy you will need to have a reason why you aren't able to get to the polling station yourself.

It is possible to have a permanent proxy vote for reasons of a disability or employment. Your application must be certified through a third party, such as your employer or doctor.

As long as your proxy is registered to vote, they can cast your vote for you at a polling station or by post.

There are limits to the number of people that can act as a proxy. Further information is available from the Electoral Commission.

You can apply online for some type of proxy or download a proxy vote application form from the Electoral Commission website.  

 

For both postal and proxy voting, you can also print the form off, complete it and return it to:

Electoral Registration Officer
Electoral Services
Town Hall 
Warrington 
WA1 1UH

Or you can contact electoral services on 01925 442184 or at elections@warrington.gov.uk and we'll send you the application form.

For your proxy to vote by post, they need to complete the proxy postal vote form and return it to the same address as above.

Postal vote handling and secrecy

From May 2024, there are changes to the way postal votes are handled:

  • political campaigners are not allowed to handle postal packs. The only exception to this is if the postal vote is their own, or belongs to a close family member or someone they provide regular care for
  • you will only be allowed to hand in a maximum of 5 postal ballot packs at Polling Stations and council offices. This is in addition to your own.
  • postal votes can be handed in at polling stations across the borough between 7am and 10pm on polling day. The person handing them in will need to complete a declaration form.
  • postal votes can be handed into our offices at Times Square and the Town Hall Reception between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. To be included in the count votes received at Council Offices must be received by 5pm on Thursday 2 May 2024. The person handing them in will need to complete a declaration form.
  • We are unable to accept any postal votes received at our offices without the declaration form being completed by the person submitting them.
  • Contact Electoral Services Team or call 01925 442184 if you need any further information 

You can find out more about changes to postal and proxy voting on the Electoral Commission website.  

Emergency proxies

An elector may appoint an emergency proxy at an election up to 5pm on polling day in the following circumstances:

  • in the case of a medical condition, illness or disability arising after the deadline for ordinary proxy applications 
  • if their occupation, service or employment means they cannot go to the polling station in person and they became aware of this after the deadline for ordinary proxy applications
  • Your photo ID is lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged, and the deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate has passed

The deadline for an emergency proxy vote for elections is 5pm on the day of an election. This is only to be used for a genuine emergency.

By law all forms require a signature to allow for an emergency proxy and the person appointed must be a registered local government elector

 

If you're unsure which type of vote you need you can contact electoral services on 01925 442184.