Register to vote

How to register to vote

If you are not on the electoral register, or you have recently moved and have yet to register to vote, you will need to make an application to register.

You can apply to register to vote online here. When making your application you will need to provide your date of birth and National Insurance Number.

Alternatively contact Electoral Services to make an application by telephone or to request a paper application form.

Voting in person

If you vote in person at a polling station, your poll card will give you details on where your polling station is and what photographic ID you can use to vote. You can only vote at the polling station location on your card.

When you arrive at the polling station, give your name and address to the election staff on duty inside the polling station and show them your ID. You will then be given a ballot paper containing a list of the people seeking election and how many candidates you can vote for.  Go to one of the polling booths and mark your ballot paper(s) in secrecy.  Fold your completed ballot paper(s) and place it/them in the ballot box.

If you do not receive a poll card at election time but think you should, contact Electoral Services.  Please note that you do not need to take your poll card with you to the polling station to be able to vote.

Accessibility at polling stations

We strive to ensure that polling stations are accessible and, wherever possible, we use venues with level or ramped access. The following assistive equipment will be provided at every polling station:

• Seating, in case you need to rest or cannot stand for long periods.
• Text magnifier.
• Pencil grips.
• Tactile voting device for marking your vote if you have a visual impairment.
• Large print sample ballot paper.
• Large print / easy read notices.
• Polling booth at wheelchair level.

If you have a need for assistive equipment that is not on this list, please contact us and we will assess whether we can provide it.

You can take your phone into the polling booth to use magnifier or text-to-speech apps or use your own equipment such as your preferred magnifier. When using your phone, do not take any photos inside the polling station. You can also take your own pen or pencil into the polling booth to mark your vote if you wish.

You can also take someone with you to help you with the voting process. Let the staff know that you want your helper to assist you and they will be able to accompany you into the polling booth. They must be aged 18 or over and will need to complete a form.  Alternatively, the Presiding Officer is able to help you cast your vote.

Voting by post or proxy

If you are registered to vote, you can apply to vote by post or by proxy (appointing someone you trust to cast your vote for you) instead of personally going to a polling station.

How to apply to vote by post

You can apply online here – this is probably the quickest and easiest way to apply.

If you do not have the option to apply online, or would prefer to apply via a paper application, you can download a form here.

Please print, complete and return the form via post or by hand to Electoral Services, Tewkesbury Borough Council, Council Offices, Gloucester Road, Tewkesbury, Glos. GL20 5TT.

We will also accept a scanned copy of your form by email (elections@tewkesbury.gov.uk) if it is of a sufficient quality for processing purposes.

If you are unable to download/print the application form, contact Electoral Services to arrange for a paper form to be sent.

When making your application you will need to prove your identity by providing your date of birth, National Insurance Number and signature (online applications will require an uploaded image of your usual signature).

You can apply for a postal vote for a particular election, a specific time period or for a maximum of three years (after which you will need to re-apply).

You must also re-apply if you move house or change your name.

Please note that deadlines apply if you decide to apply for, amend or cancel a postal vote in the run-up to an election. Therefore, please ensure that you make any application promptly, or that you contact us immediately if your circumstances change.

Voting by post

If you vote by post, you will receive a poll card confirming the address where you have asked us to send your postal vote pack, and what to do if you lose or spoil all or part of your pack, or if you do not receive it.

You will then receive a postal vote pack comprising a postal voting statement, a ballot paper for the election(s) at which you are entitled to vote, and two envelopes (one for your completed ballot paper(s), and a return envelope for your completed postal voting statement and the envelope containing your completed ballot paper(s)).

There will also be a quick guide to help you complete and return the paperwork.  Please take care to include your date of birth and signature on the postal voting statement before it is returned with you ballot paper(s).  These ‘identifiers’ will be checked against the data you provided to us as part of your postal vote application and if one or both do not match, your vote will not be counted.  If this happens, we will notify you of your postal vote rejection and what needs to be done to put things right before any subsequent election.

If you’re too late to post your ballot paper …

You can take it to your allocated polling station (or one in the same electoral area) before it closes or to the Council Offices during office hours.

You must complete a form when delivering your postal vote otherwise it will be rejected – so, if returning it to the Council Offices, do not simply post it in the external letter box or unattended reception area. One person can hand deliver their own postal vote and postal votes for up to 5 other electors.

Replacement postal vote packs

Contact us to request a replacement pack if you do not receive a pack or if you spoil any of the contents.

You will need to return your spoiled pack to us before receiving a replacement pack.  Depending upon the timing of your contact with us, you may be required to come to the Council Offices to receive your replacement pack.  If so, you will need to bring some form of ID with you.

You can get a replacement for a lost or spoiled ballot paper up to 5pm on polling day.

How to apply to vote by proxy

When making your application you will need to prove your identity by providing your date of birth, National Insurance number and signature on your application form.  You will also need to provide contact details for your proxy, including the address at which they are registered to vote.

Your proxy should:

• Be over the age of 18.
• Be registered to vote.
• Be allowed to vote in the type of election taking place.
• Be someone you trust to vote on your behalf.

Your proxy does not have to be related to you.

Your proxy must be able to vote for you at your specified polling station.  If this is not possible, they may want to apply to vote for you by post.  Your proxy will need to contact Electoral Services to obtain the postal proxy vote application form.

At the same election, someone can only be a proxy for two people based in the UK.  If they are acting as proxy for people living overseas, they can act as proxy for up to four people but only two of these can be based in the UK.

You can choose to apply for a proxy vote for a particular election, a particular type of election, or all elections you are eligible to vote in.

If you’re applying to vote by proxy for a particular election, or if you live overseas or are a service voter, you can apply online here – this is probably the quickest and easiest way to apply.

If you want to apply for a proxy vote for a particular type of election only (for example, for council elections), you will need to contact the Electoral Services Team for an application form.

Applications to vote by proxy for all other reasons can only be made by completing a paper form.  This is due to the requirement for the application to be supported by an attestation.

You can apply for a proxy vote if you won’t be able to go the polling station for the foreseeable future or a long period of time – up to a maximum of three years.  Situations that can be covered include:

• You have a disability.
• You are away on an educational course.
• You are away for work.
• You work overseas for the British Council or as a Crown servant.
• You are registered as an anonymous elector.

All paper application forms can be accessed here.

The form you need to complete depends on the reason why you need a proxy vote, so please download and complete the relevant application form (depending upon your circumstance).

If you are unable to download and/or print off an application form, please contact Electoral Services to arrange for a paper form to be sent.

When you have completed your form, it will need to be delivered via post or by hand to Electoral Services, Tewkesbury Borough Council, Council Offices, Gloucester Road, Tewkesbury, Glos. GL20 5TT.

We will also accept a scanned copy of your form by email (elections@tewkesbury.gov.uk) if it is of a sufficient quality for processing purposes.

You will need to complete a new proxy vote application if you move house or change your name.  You must also notify us if your proxy’s details change in any way.

Voting by Proxy

If you vote by proxy, both you and your proxy will receive a poll card if your proxy votes in person. If your proxy votes for you by post, you will not receive a proxy poll card.

You can vote yourself if you wish if your proxy has not already voted and has not applied to vote by post.

When your proxy votes for you at a polling station, they will need to show their ID, not yours.

The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm, 6 working days before polling day.

After this deadline, you can still apply for an emergency proxy before 5pm on polling day, if you meet one of the criteria below:

• You have a medical emergency.
• You cannot vote in person due to work reasons.
• The ID you would use to vote has been damaged, destroyed, lost or stolen.
• You have applied for a voter authority certificate but haven’t received it yet.

Electoral and open register

Using information from the public, the Electoral Registration Officer keeps two registers – the electoral register and the open register (also known as the Edited Register).

The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote in public elections. The register is used for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote. It is also used for other limited purposes specified in law, such as:

• Detecting crime (e.g. fraud).
• Calling people for jury service.
• Checking credit applications.

The open register is an extract of the electoral register but is not used for elections. It can be bought by any person, company or organisation. For example, it is used by businesses and charities to confirm name and address details. Your name and address will be included in the open register unless you ask for them to be removed. Removing your details from the open register does not affect your right to vote.

British citizens living overseas

If you are a British or eligible Irish citizen living overseas who has previously lived in the UK you can register to vote in UK Parliamentary elections.

Please note:

• If you have previously been registered to vote in the UK you would apply on registration grounds.
• If you have not previously registered to vote you can apply on residency grounds.
• You can register to vote in the UK no matter how long ago you left or were last registered to vote.
• Your overseas declaration is now valid for three years, lasting until 1 November in the third year after it takes effect (for example, if your declaration takes effect on 1 March 2024, it will expire on 1 November 2026).

You can now register online here.

Serving abroad in the armed forces

If you’re serving outside the UK, you can register as a ‘service’ voter. This means that you only have to renew your registration every five years. You can apply to register to vote here.

Public servants are eligible to vote in all UK elections.

Crown servants and British Council employees

If you are based outside the UK working as a Crown servant or British Council employee, you can apply to register to vote here.

Public servants are eligible to vote in all UK elections.

Voting as a student

If you’re a student, you may be able to register to vote at both your home address and your term-time address. However, you cannot vote at both addresses in national elections.

For further information visit the Electoral Commission’s website.