How to register to vote including postal voting and voting by proxy.
In order to vote in an election you need to be on the electoral register. If you are already registered to vote, you do not need to re-register, unless you have moved house or your details have changed.
The easiest way to register is by going online. You will need your National Insurance number.
If you need a paper form, please ring us.
Please note: After you have applied to register, we will need to check and process your application before it can be approved. We will do this as soon as we can.
The annual register is published on 1 December each year from the electoral information you give us.
After the annual register is published, we update that register under the monthly rolling registration procedure between.
GOV.UK and Mencap have written a step-by-step, easy read guide to registering to vote, for people with a learning disability. The guide is an example of an application to register to vote.
If you are unable to get to the polling station on polling day, you can apply to vote by post. Any person on the register can apply for a postal vote.
The easiest way to apply for a postal vote is online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
Alternatively, you can download, print and complete a paper application from the Electoral Commission website.
Completed forms must be returned to the following address: Electoral Services, Torbay Council, Town Hall, Torquay, TQ1 3DR, no later than 11 working days before an election.
Voting by proxy means that you appoint someone you trust to vote on your behalf. Voting by proxy can be useful if you can’t get to the polling station on election day, for example if you fall ill or you are abroad.
If you already have a postal vote and wish to change to a proxy you must tell us 11 working days before the poll. The deadline for new proxy applications is 6 working days before an election.
If you are a service voter or overseas elector, or you are applying for a proxy vote for a particular election, you can apply online at www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote
If you are applying for a long term proxy, you will need to download, complete and return a paper application form from the Electoral Commission website.
Completed forms must be returned to the following address: Electoral Services, Torbay Council, Town Hall, Torquay, TQ1 3DR, no later than 6 working days before an election.
In certain circumstances, where you have an emergency that means you cannot go to the polling station in person you can apply for an emergency proxy up to 5pm on the day of the poll.