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An overview of voting in the UK, including voting in person, postal and proxy voting, and voting if you're abroad.

• Overview

  You need to be registered to vote before you can vote in UK elections or…

• Voting in person

  You vote in person at a polling station (usually in a public building,…

• Voting by post

  You must apply for a postal vote if you want to vote by post, for example…

• Voting by proxy

  If you’re unable to vote in person you can ask someone to vote on your…

• Voting from abroad

  How you vote when you’re abroad depends on: whether you’ll be abroad…

• Photo ID you'll need

  You’ll need to show photo ID when voting in person in some UK elections or…

• Voting as a proxy for someone else

  You may be asked to vote on behalf of someone else if they’re unable to…

Find out more about elections and referendums in the UK, including the general election, check who can vote in each election and how voting works.

• Overview

  There are different types of UK elections. The most common ones are:…

• General election

  General elections (elections to the UK Parliament) usually take place…

• Local government

  Local government elections take place at least every 4 years. Not all…

• Scottish Parliament

  There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). To vote in…

• Northern Ireland Assembly

  There are 90 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the Northern…

• Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament)

  There are 60 Members of the Senedd (MSs). To vote in Senedd elections you…

• Local mayors, Mayor of London and London Assembly

  Elected local mayors In some areas of England voters elect a mayor. Check…

• Police and Crime Commissioner

  There are 41 Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales…

• Referendums

  A referendum is a vote on a single issue. You usually make one choice…

Vote in UK elections and referendums, register to vote, check what ID you need, and apply to vote by post or by proxy.

Use this service to apply to vote by proxy in certain elections in the UK. You and your proxy must both be registered to vote in the UK.

Register to vote, getting on the electoral register and voting by proxy

• Updated: 24 June 2015

Find out how to vote in UK elections if you move or live abroad, including eligibility, registering to vote and renewing your registration.

If you aren’t able to cast your vote in person, you can have someone you trust cast your vote for you in a particular election or referendum.

If your employment or your spouse or civil partner’s employment means that you cannot vote in person, then you can apply to vote by proxy.

This How To Note provides guidance for UK country posts on when and how to support elections internationally.

• Updated: 1 December 2010

If you or your spouse or civil partner are attending an educational course that means you won't be able to vote in person, then you can vote by proxy.