If you can’t attend your polling station for any reason, you can vote by post or proxy.

If you can't apply for a post or proxy vote online, email elections@scambs.gov.uk to ask for a paper form.

Re-apply for your Postal Vote

Postal votes now expire after three years (on the third 31 January after the application was made).

We are currently contacting affected postal voters to let them know that they need to make a new application in order to keep their postal vote.

Electors may be contacted by email, post or text message. 

We know that residents may be concerned about receiving emails and text messages. If we do contact you, we can confirm that:

• The text message will be from "South Cambs Elections"

• The subject line of the email will be "Re-apply now so you don't lose your postal vote." 

If you want to cancel your postal vote please email us and include your full name, address and date of birth. This will stop any reminder letters being sent to you.

Vote by post

Go to the government website to apply for a postal vote online. You will need your national insurance to complete the application.

You can no longer permanently vote by post, applications now expire after a maximum of three years (by the third 31st January after you make your application). We will make contact in the months leading up to the expiry to let you know you will need to reapply. 

The deadline to apply to vote by post, or amend an existing postal vote, is 5pm, 11 working days before polling day.

Vote by proxy

You can also choose to vote by proxy. Voting by proxy is when you choose someone to visit your polling station on your behalf.

Go to the government website to apply for a proxy vote online. You will need your national insurance number to complete the application.

The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm, 5 working days before polling day. Anyone may apply to vote by proxy as one-off.

Email elections@scambs.gov.uk with your contact details if you want to apply for a permanent proxy vote.

Emergency proxies

You can apply for an emergency proxy after the deadline for choosing a regular proxy has closed. 

This must be something that you weren't aware of before the normal proxy deadline. Emergency proxy applications can be made up to 5pm on polling day.

By law, there are only certain circumstances where you may be able to apply for an emergency proxy. They include:

• you’ve been away for work and only discovered this after the proxy application deadline (your employer will need to support your application)
• if you’ve fallen ill/had a medical emergency (a relevant medical professional will need to support your application)
• your photo ID is lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged after the deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate has passed.

To get an application form, please go to the Electoral Commission Website.