Absentee Ballots and Proxy Voting: How to Cast Your Vote If You’re Away for the 4th July Election

Are you eligible to cast your vote while on vacation? If you find yourself away from home on election day, you have a couple of alternatives. Numerous individuals have scheduled trips overseas for the July 4th election—some for leisure, others may be attending the Euros in Germany. Even if you're outside the country on the day votes are cast, there are still methods to participate in the election.

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Rishi Sunak is facing scrutiny over the scheduling of the general election.

The July 4th election coincides with the beginning of summer break for Scotland's schools, with numerous families likely to be on vacation.

Numerous soccer enthusiasts are gearing up to journey to Germany for the Euros taking place this summer.

Individuals who will be abroad on July 4th have two alternatives to consider.

Mail-in voting

If you're unable to visit your local polling station on Election Day, you have the option to cast your vote through mail.

If you're traveling or your job prevents you from visiting a polling station, you're eligible to request a postal vote. Alternatively, you may opt for postal voting if it simply suits your schedule better.

To participate in the upcoming general election, it's mandatory to be a registered voter. The final day to register is Tuesday, June 18.

You have the option to sign up to vote through the internet, or you can complete a registration form and mail it to your nearest Electoral Registration Office, which can be located using this link.

What are the application dates?

Applications should be submitted as soon as possible, with a final deadline set for 5pm on Wednesday, June 19.

Your voting materials should arrive via mail approximately one week prior to the scheduled election day.

What are the steps to apply?

To submit your application, please click on this link.

Alternatively, you have the option to download a postal voting application form, complete it, and mail it to your local Electoral Registration Office.

On your application form, it's necessary to include your date of birth, National Insurance number, and signature. These details help verify your identity for postal voting.

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What are the steps to finalize my voting process?

It's important to cast your vote on the ballot in private and complete the postal vote declaration.

Next, insert both the ballot and the statement into the supplied envelope.

When should I return it?

Upon receiving your mail-in ballot, promptly complete and send it back.

Should you be concerned that it won't make it on time, you have the option to bring it directly to your nearest polling station and hand it in before the polls shut at 10pm.

Voting by

Proxy voting occurs when an individual who cannot attend the polling station delegates their voting responsibility to another person to cast a vote for them.

Select a proxy voter who you can rely on to vote according to your instructions, and ensure that both you and your proxy are registered to vote.

The individual must be capable of voting at the designated polling station indicated on your polling card or, if unable to do so, they should have arranged with your local Electoral Registration Office to vote by proxy through postal means.

Who is eligible to apply?

The application form for a proxy vote, available to residents of England, Scotland, and Wales, specifies that proxy voting is allowed under specific conditions.

It additionally permits you to give an alternative explanation for why you cannot vote in person.

In Northern Ireland, acceptable grounds for voting by proxy include:

What is the duration of a proxy vote?

You have the option to register for a specific voting day, like July 4th, or choose a duration over which it extends. If there's a permanent issue preventing you from voting on your own, you can request to establish a lasting proxy arrangement.

What is the application deadline?

The cut-off time for this election is set for 5pm on Friday, June 14 in Northern Ireland, and 5pm on Wednesday, June 26 for England, Scotland, and Wales.

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Is it necessary for the individual casting a vote for me to have my identification?

No, they simply need one of their own.

Instructions for Application

Click here to submit your application online.

Alternatively, you have the option to download a proxy vote application form, complete it, and mail it to your local Electoral Registration Office.

When requesting that another individual vote for you, the following is required:

Before being designated as someone else's proxy, the individual should have already spoken to you about it before they submitted their application. Following approval of the application, you will receive a notification from the government.

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What should I do if I have to modify or revoke my proxy vote?

Reach out to the Electoral Registration Office in your area.

Is it possible to act as a proxy for multiple individuals?

In the UK, you are allowed to act as a proxy for a maximum of two individuals residing domestically, or for up to four individuals if at least two of them are registered to vote from overseas.

What happens if I miss the deadline to apply?

The authorities have stated that in certain situations, you are eligible to request an emergency proxy vote.

In England, Scotland, and Wales, the deadline to submit your application for electoral registration is 5pm on Election Day. However, you must complete a physical form and deliver it to the Electoral Registration Office in your area.

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