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Every voter should have the right to vote independently and in secret.
However, we know that disabled people (including those with chronic pain and CRPS) face many barriers to voting, including:
In this article, in preparation for the 2024 General Election, we are going to discuss some of the alternative methods of voting for those who are unable to vote in person and let you know the process for registering to vote via one of these methods.
Due to the Elections Act 2022, there are changes to the way people can vote by post. You can apply online to vote by post and will need to prove your identity when applying. You will also need to re-apply for a postal vote every three years.
The changes apply to:
If you have a long-term postal vote that you applied for before 31 October 2023, this will now expire on 31 January 2026. The electoral services team at your local council will contact you before your postal vote expires.
You can find out more about the change to postal voting here.
After the deadline to become a candidate has passed (approximately three weeks before polling day), ballot papers are produced and printed. Yours will then be sent in your postal voting pack.
Once you receive your postal voting pack, make sure to keep it somewhere safe. Don't let anyone else handle it and avoid leaving it where someone else could pick it up.
Step one
When you receive your postal voting pack for the 2024 General Election, check the contents carefully. Inside your pack, there should be:
Step two
Complete the postal voting statement, carefully following the instructions.
Step three
Read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully. Some elections use different voting systems, so you need to make sure you fill in each ballot paper correctly.
Step four
Complete your ballot paper. Make sure you do it alone and in secret. Don't write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted.
Step five
Put your ballot paper in the smaller envelope marked A.
Step six
Put your postal voting statement and the ballot paper envelope into the return envelope marked B, and seal it. Make sure the return address is clear.
Step seven
Put your postal vote somewhere safe until you're ready to post it.
Return your completed postal vote as soon as possible by taking it to a postbox yourself.
If you can't post it yourself, you can either ask someone you know and trust to post it for you.
Do not ask a candidate or party worker to post it for you. It is an offence for campaigners, candidates and party workers to handle the postal votes of anyone who is not a close relative or someone they provide care for.
Campaigners can only hand in their own postal vote and postal votes for up to five other people who are either close relatives or someone they provide regular care for.
Your postal vote needs to be with the elections team at your local council by 10pm on polling day to be counted.
If you can't post your postal vote in time, you can take it to your polling station. You may also be able to hand it in to your local council office, but you should contact your Electoral Registration Officer to check if this is possible.
When handing in postal votes, you will need to complete a form. You will need to include your name and address, how many postal votes you are handing in and why you are handing in those postal votes.
You must apply for a postal vote if you want to vote by post, for example, if:
You do not need to give a reason unless you’re voting in Northern Ireland.
You can apply for a postal vote for one of the following:
You can:
There’s a different form to apply to vote by post in Northern Ireland.
Make a new application for a postal vote if you move house or you’ll be away from home when the postal vote is sent out.
There’s a different form for Northern Ireland.
If you want to register to vote in the 2024 General Election, you must do so by 11:59pm on 18th June 2024.
To apply for a Postal Vote online, you'll need to do so by 5pm on 19th June 2024.
To apply for a Postal Vote by post, your application must reach your local Electoral Registration Office by 5pm on 19th June 2024.
There are changes to Voting by Proxy for the 2024 General Election. You can apply online (Opens in new window) for some types of proxy vote and there are changes to how many people a voter can act as a proxy for.
The changes apply to:
If you applied for a proxy vote before 31 October 2023, this will expire on 31 January 2024 and you will need to apply for a new one.
Find out more about changes to voting by proxy.
If you're voting by proxy, you'll need to ask someone you trust to vote on your behalf.
You will need to tell your proxy clearly who you would like to vote for.
Someone can be your proxy if they are:
Your proxy does not have to be related to you.
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 do so for up to four people (but only two of these can be based in the UK).
The person you have appointed as your proxy will need to go to your polling station to cast your vote. Your trusted person will need to take a correct form of ID with them to the polling station so they can vote on your behalf. This must be their own ID rather than yours. You can learn more about accepted forms of photo ID here.
They will receive a proxy poll card telling them where and when to vote on your behalf.
If they don't receive a proxy poll card, they should inform the electoral services team at your local council. They will be able to tell them where to go and vote and any other information needed.
You can still vote in person if you have a proxy vote, but only if you do so before your proxy has voted for you.
You can:
If you want to register to vote in the 2024 General Election, you must do so by 11:59pm on 18th June 2024.
To apply for a Proxy Vote online, you'll need to do so by 5pm on 26th June 2024.
To apply for a Proxy Vote by post, your application must reach your local Electoral Registration Office by 5pm on 19th June 2024.
Voting in local and general elections should be accessible to you whether you choose to vote at a polling station or in another way, for example, by post or by proxy.
Most polling stations have been made accessible for those who wish to vote in person, and there are other ways to vote if you are unable to vote in person.
It’s important that everyone has the opportunity to vote in the upcoming 2024 General Election - your voice matters!
Burning Nights is here for you whenever you need help - whether you are facing a diagnosis, have lived with CRPS for years, or care for someone with the condition.
You are not alone.