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Ways you can vote

You need to be registered to vote before you can vote in UK elections or referendums.

Vote in person

Most people choose to vote in person, at a polling station.

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day, which means you can vote at a time that's convenient to you.

When you register to vote, you will receive a poll card in the post. Your poll card will provide you with the name and address of your polling station.

You can only vote at this polling station - even if there is one nearer to your home. This is because staff at polling stations have different electoral registers and ballot papers.

When you arrive at the polling station, you will need to provide:

  • your name
  • your address
  • valid Voter ID

you will then be issued with your ballot paper.

You do not need to take your poll card with you to vote. However, it can help polling station staff register you more quickly.

We make every effort to make sure that every polling station within the district is accessible. If you would like to check access before you visit - or need additional assistance - please contact our Elections team.

Voter ID

When you vote at a polling station, you need to take valid photo ID with you.

If you do not have any valid photo ID - but you would like to vote at a polling station - you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate.

For more information - including a full list of valid photo ID - please visit our Voter ID webpage.

If you need help voting

Voters with a disability, who need help voting, are able to choose anyone aged over 18 to come with them to the polling station.

They can also, instead, ask the person in charge of the polling station (the 'Presiding Officer') to help them mark their ballot paper. The Presiding Officer is legally bound by the Requirements for Secrecy - and the vote will remain secret.

For more information, please visit our Voting accessibility webpage.

Vote by post

If you can't visit a polling station on polling day, or would prefer not to, you can apply to vote by post.

Your ballot paper will be sent to you - by post - a week or two before polling day.

You are then able to complete your ballot paper (alongside any relevant paperwork) and send it back via post. A freepost envelope with a return address will be sent to you, alongside your ballot paper.

You are also able to hand in your ballot paper to a polling station on polling day (between 7am - 10pm). This will need to be a polling station within your own electoral area - and usually within your own ward.

The Elections Act 2022 brought some changes to how elections are run:

  • postal voters must reapply to vote by post every three years. For more information, please visit our Updating your voter registration page.
  • political parties and campaigners will be banned from handling postal vote packs.
  • there will be a limit as to how many postal vote packs a person can hand in to a polling station.

You can apply to vote by post at any time throughout the year but an application must be received by 5pm, 11 working days before an election to be valid for that election.  Please note that if you need an application to be sent to you in the post, then you must give enough time for us to post the form to you, and for you to return it to us before the deadline. By law, an application received after the deadline cannot be processed for those elections.

If you are applying to vote by post because you will be away on holiday for the date of the election, please check when the postal votes will be despatched so that you can ensure your vote will be delivered to you before you leave.  Postal ballot papers are usually sent out around a week and a half before the date of an election.

When you apply to vote by post, you will need to provide:

  • The address where you are registered to vote
  • Your National Insurance number
  • A photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper

You can apply online or download a paper form using the link above.

If you are unable to sign a consistent signature, for example, due to a disability) you can apply for a signature waiver.  You can do this online or on a paper form.

If you require our assistance - or need us to send a form to you by post - please contact our Elections team on 0300 1234000 (Option 7) or email elections@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk.

Vote by proxy

When you vote by proxy, you appoint someone that you trust - a friend or relative - to vote on your behalf.

The person that you appoint can choose to cast your vote in person, or by post.

Anyone can be a proxy voter - so long as they are eligible to vote and are willing to vote for you.

A proxy voter cannot vote for more than two people at one election (unless the person they are voting for is a close relative).

Please note that if a proxy voter wants to cast your vote in person, they will need to attend your appointed polling station.

You can apply to vote by proxy at any time throughout the year but an application must be received by 5pm, six working days before an election for it to be valid for that election. If you need an application to be sent to you by post, then you must give us enough time to post the form to you, and for you to return it to us before the deadline.

By law, an application received after the deadline cannot be processed for that election.

If you apply to vote by proxy, your proxy will receive a proxy poll card or letter before the election, that they can take to the polling station with them. If your appointed proxy would prefer to cast your vote by post, they must complete and return an additional application, which must reach us before the deadline for applications to vote by post (5pm, 11 working days before the date of an election).

If you have appointed a proxy but are then able to vote on the day of an election, you can do so as long as your proxy has not already voted on your behalf, and they have not been granted a postal vote as your proxy.

If you already have a postal vote arrangement in place and want to change to a proxy arrangement, you must tell us by the earlier deadline for postal vote arrangements (5pm, 11 working days before an election), before we can put in place a new proxy arrangement.

You can apply to vote by proxy for a specific election, provided you have a valid reason.

We can also register you for a three-year period, subject to legal requirements, if:

  • you regularly work away
  • you are a student studying away from home
  • you find it physically difficult to attend the polling station
  • you live overseas and are registered as an overseas elector
  • you are (or are the spouse of) a member of the armed forces or a crown servant

When you apply online, you can either apply online or download a paper form. The method will depend on your circumstances.

  • You can apply online if you are applying:
    • for a specific election, or
    • you are an overseas elector, or
    • you are a member of the armed forced or a crown servant
       
  • You must complete an application form if you are applying to vote by proxy for up to three years and you:
    • regularly work away, or
    • are a student studying away from home, or
    • find it physically difficult to attend the polling station.

Please make sure that you complete the correct form. You will need the signature of a qualified professional who can confirm that the reason given is true and accurate.

Emergency proxy votes

You can apply for a proxy vote less than six working days before polling day (and up until 5pm on the day), under some emergency circumstances:

  1. In the case where a medical condition, illness or disability has arisen less than six days before polling day
  2. In the case where the voter is a mental health patient, who has been detained under civil powers
  3. In the case where the voter's occupation causes them not to be able to vote in person - and they became aware of this less than six working days before the poll
  4. In the case where the photo ID you were planning to use has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed

Advantages of voting by proxy

Voting by proxy can make it easier for people to vote. It may benefit you if:

  • you are not able to get to your appointed polling station on polling day
  • you are not well, and won't be able to vote in person on polling day
  • you are overseas

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Refreshing signatures of absent voters

Each January, we send a written notice to every absent voter (postal and proxy voters) who has not updated their signature for more than five years. This notice will ask you to confirm your date of birth, and provide an up-to-date signature.

We will use this information to replace the information you provided when you originally applied to be an absent voter.

You can also use the notice to cancel your absent vote, if you no longer need it.

If you do not reply to the written notice, we will send you a reminder notice.

If you do not reply to the reminder notice, we will cancel your absent vote. You will have to vote in person, at a polling station.

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How we use your information

We collect your personal information for the following purposes:

  • to carry out our statutory obligation of ensuring that all eligible persons in Babergh and Mid Suffolk are registered to vote
  • to enable eligible persons to stand as candidates in elections, in accordance with statutory requirements
  • to enable all registered electors to participate as voters in elections and referendums

Please read our Privacy notice for electoral registration and elections for more information.

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