Voting by post

If you can’t get to your polling station on election day, you don't have to miss your chance to vote. Registered electors can apply to vote by post or by proxy. To apply for a postal vote, follow the instructions below.

How to apply for a postal vote

1. Telephone the Electoral Services Team;
2. We will verify your address and check your name is on the Electoral Register;
3. We will then post a form to you, prefilled with your name and address, or email it to you if you've supplied an email address;
4. You just need to sign and return the form.

Further information

How postal voting works
If you apply to vote by post, a ballot paper will be sent to your home about one week before the election. If you are likely to be away at this time, you can arrange for the ballot paper to be sent to your away address.

You will also receive a Postal Voting Statement form to complete, together with an envelope in which to place your marked ballot paper. Return both the form and the sealed ballot-paper envelope in the larger prepaid envelope that will also be provided.

The larger envelope for the return of the documents will not be prepaid if you have asked for the postal vote to be sent to an address outside the UK.

Voting from overseas
If you want the postal vote to be sent to an overseas address, you should be confident that the postal services can deliver it to you and return it to the relevant election office in the UK within five working days. If you are not sure that this can be done, the best idea might be to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf.

Please note that once you have been sent a postal ballot paper you will not be able to vote in person.

Getting your vote in on time
All postal votes must be returned to the Returning Officer at our offices in Holt Road, Cromer before the end of voting on the day of the election. If you forget to post it in time, remember that you can get someone to hand it in to the Returning Officer at our offices or to a polling station in the electoral area on the day of the election.