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Woking Borough Council is encouraging residents who are unable to vote in person at polling stations to apply for a postal or proxy vote (a trusted person) ahead of the forthcoming elections.
On Thursday 2 May, residents will be able to vote to elect Woking Borough councillors and the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner election.
The application deadlines are fast approaching for residents wishing to:
- Apply online for a postal vote - the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024.
- Apply for a postal vote by post - the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024. Download a printable form from the Electoral Commission website and return to Woking Borough Council.
- Apply online for a proxy vote - the deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024.
- Change or cancel an existing postal, proxy or postal proxy vote - residents should contact Woking Borough Council’s Elections Team before 5pm on Wednesday 17 April.
Residents can check their current voter status on the poll cards, which will be sent to registered voters from Wednesday 27 March 2024.
Speaking about the different ways to vote, Gareth John, Returning Officer for Woking Borough, said: “In addition to providing accessible polling stations and voting equipment, postal and proxy voting is an accessible way for residents to vote if they are unable to vote in person.
“When choosing your proxy vote, it is important that you choose someone you trust to vote on your behalf – your vote is yours, and yours alone.
“From this year, some changes have been introduced to the way proxy and postal votes are managed. For example, there are now limits to how many people a voter can act as a proxy for. One person can only act as a proxy for two people living in the UK. Residents acting as a proxy for people living overseas, can act as proxy for up to four people, but only two of these can be based in the UK.”
To be able to vote, eligible residents must be registered to vote. Registering to vote is quick and easy to do online. The deadline for registrations is 11.59pm on Tuesday 16 April 2024.
To register to vote, residents will need to provide their date of birth, National Insurance number and signature on your application form. These are used to confirm your identity when you vote by post.