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Do you need a postal or a proxy vote?

If you are not going to be able to cast your vote in person at your polling station in the forthcoming elections you could apply for a postal or a proxy vote. Every person living in the Peterborough City Council area, who will be 18 on polling day (Thursday, 22 May) who is already on the electoral register, will be able to vote

However, if you are not able to get to your polling station because you are going to be away, or you cannot get there for medical reasons on that day, you could apply for a postal vote or a proxy vote. To be able to vote by post you must first be registered to vote.

You need to fill in a postal vote application form. Forms are available at https://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/postal_vote_application/postal_vote_application.aspx or from Peterborough City Council’s Customer Service Centre at Bayard Place, Peterborough or the Town Hall reception in Bridge Street, Peterborough. After completing the form, you’ll need to print it, sign it, and send it back to Peterborough City Council, Electoral Registration Officer, Electoral Services, Bridge Street, Town Hall, Peterborough PE1 1GF.

You need to sign your application form personally because the electoral registration office needs a copy of your signature for voting security reasons. This helps to ensure the security of your vote and is used to tackle electoral fraud.

Voting by proxy is another convenient way of voting if you are unable to get to the polling station. By proxy just means that you appoint someone you trust to vote on your behalf.

Voting by proxy can be useful if you fall ill and are unable to get to the polling station on election day, or if you are abroad during an election. It can be particularly useful if you are overseas in a country too far away to send back a postal vote in time for the election (for instance, if you are in the Armed Forces and deployed overseas).

When you apply for a proxy vote you have to provide a reason. You can apply for a proxy vote if:

  •  You are unable to go to the polling station for one particular election, for example, if you are away on holiday
  • You have a physical condition that means you cannot go to the polling station on election day
  • Your employment means that you cannot go to the polling station on election day
  • Your attendance on an educational course means that you cannot go to the polling station on election day
  • You are a British citizen living overseas
  • You are a crown servant or a member of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces

With the exception of those who are registered blind, you may have to get someone to support your application to confirm that your reason for applying to vote by proxy is valid.

To vote by proxy, you’ll need to fill in an application form which you can download from https://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/apply_to_vote_by_proxy.aspx. You’ll need to print the form and complete it, then sign it, and return it to Peterborough City Council, Electoral Registration Officer, Electoral Services, Bridge Street, Town Hall, Peterborough PE1 1GF.

You need to sign your application form personally.

Twenty-one seats in 19 wards will be contested in Peterborough City Council elections on Thursday, 22 May 2014.

The deadline to submit new applications to vote is Tuesday, 6 May 2014. New applications to vote by post, or cancel or change an existing postal vote must be made by Wednesday, 7 May 2014 at 5 pm. Applications to vote by proxy must be made by 5 pm on Wednesday, 14 May 2014.

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