How and where to Vote

You can vote in person at a polling station, by post or by proxy. In order to vote you must be registered to vote.

Please note there has been some changes to proxy and postal voting. Find out more

Visit our Vote ID page to find out more about the latest requirements. 

When registering to vote you will automatically be registered to vote at the polling station unless you complete one of the application forms to vote by post or proxy.

You will receive a poll card before the election which will tell you where your polling station is. You don't need your poll card in order to vote but it is helpful to have with you.

Watch our video to discover what to expect at a polling station.

 

Where to vote

Details of where you can vote will be published prior to the election. If you have any queries, please contact Electoral Services on 01279 655 261 or e-mail electors@eastherts.gov.uk 

Voter ID

The UK government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at elections. This new requirement was applied for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023. Visit our Voter ID page for requirements and additional information. 

 

Future elections

To vote by post in future elections, you must be a registered voter.  Voters are able to apply for a postal vote online. Paper forms are still available by contacting electors@eastherts.gov.uk or by downloading them from the Electoral Commission website

When applying for a postal vote you will need to include your National Insurance number, even if this has already been provided on your registration. If you are applying online you will need to upload a wet signature. 

Postal votes will last for a maximum of three years, after which you will be required to reapply for your postal vote. 

If you already have a postal vote in place, you do not need to take any action now.  The Electoral Services team will contact you directly when it’s time to renew.

Postal votes are always sent out about 2-3 weeks before polling day and we will post you a postal poll card saying when you will receive your ballot paper.

Completed application forms must be returned via email electors@eastherts.gov.uk.   Alternatively, you can print out and send on to our Hertford offices.  Details of this can be found on our contact us page.  We may be able to send you an application form in the post if required.

Your application form must be with us by 5pm 11 working days before an election. No Voter ID is required if you vote by post. 

If you are unable to vote in person for a particular election, for example you are on holiday, you can get someone to vote for you and tell them who to vote for. This is called a proxy vote. To vote by proxy you and your proxy must be registered to vote and eligible to vote in that election.

Voters are limited to acting as a proxy for two people, regardless of their relationship. Anyone voting on behalf of UK voters who live overseas may be eligible to act as a proxy for up to four people.

Voters are able to apply for a proxy vote online. Completed application forms can be returned as an email attachment to electors@eastherts.gov.uk or posted to: Electoral Services, Electoral Services, East Herts District Council Offices , Peggs Lane, Hertford, Herts,SG13 8EQ

 

Voter ID

As a proxy voter you will need to produce your own photo ID. However, you do not need to produce the ID for the elector on whose behalf you are voting. 

There has been some changes to how people from overseas can vote:

In the past, British citizens were only eligible to vote in UK Parliament elections if they had previously been registered in the UK and living abroad for less than 15 years.

From January 2024, there is no longer a time limit. Voters that have previously lived or been registered to vote in the UK now have the right to vote in UK parliament elections.

Find out more about the changes