Lewes District Council

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Lewes District Council
32 High Street
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 2LX

Tel: 01273 484116
electoral@lewes.gov.uk
Minicom 01273 484488

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Guide to Voting

A vote being castA step-by-step guide to the ways you can cast your vote at elections with further information on each process.

How you vote is up to you. It may depend on what you find easiest or the most convenient method. In the UK, there are three different ways you can vote.

Most people vote in person at a polling station. However, if you are not able to go to the polling station in person on election day, you can apply to vote by post or by proxy (someone voting on your behalf).

Postal vote icon

Postal Voting

If you live in the UK or abroad and apply in time, you can vote by post. Anyone can apply for a postal vote – you don't need to give a reason. A postal vote can be sent to your home address or to any other address that you choose. You can apply to vote by post for just one election, for a specific period, or permanently.

You'll need to give your date of birth and signature when you apply and again whenever you vote by post, in order to prove your identity. You should:

  • complete your ballot paper in secret 
  • put it in the envelope provided
  • seal the envelope yourself 
  • take it to the post box yourself, if you can

To vote in this way, either tick the box on the annual registration form or contact the Electoral Services office to update your details.

Proxy Voting

If you live in the UK or abroad and you are unable to vote, you can ask someone to vote for you, and tell them who to vote for. This is called a proxy vote. You can apply to vote by proxy for:

  • one election
  • a specific period
  • permanently

You can only apply for a proxy vote under certain circumstances, which include:

  • being abroad on election day
  • having a disability
  • being unable to vote because of work reasons

To vote in this way, either:

  • tick the box on the annual registration form or
  • contact the Electoral Services office to update your details

Polling station

Polling Station Voting

Voting at a polling station is very straightforward and there is always a member of staff available to help if you're not sure what to do.

If you are on the electoral register, you will receive a poll card before the election telling you:

  • the type of election
  • the date of the election
  • which polling station you may vote at
  • polling station voting times

The polling station is often a school or local hall near where you live. The poll card is for your information only, and you do not need to take it to the polling station in order to vote.

Arriving at the polling station

When you arrive at the polling station, tell the people at the polling station your name and address. You can take your polling card with you to show who you are. The people at the polling station will give you a list of the people or parties you can vote for called a ballot paper. The ballot paper will tell you how many votes you have or you can ask a member of staff at the polling station for help.

Filling in your ballot paper

No-one is allowed to see who you vote for so make sure you vote in a polling booth which has a screen around it.  Put an ‘X’ by the person or party you want to vote for. Fold your ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box