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.
My Vote My Voice is a campaign developed by United Response, Dimensions, Mencap and Ambitious About Autism to encourage people with learning disabilities and autistic people to vote.
Who can register
You must be aged 16 or over.
You can register to vote if you’re a British citizen or an Irish citizen.
You can also register if you have permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man - or you do not need permission - and you’re a:
The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone registered to vote in Torbay.
You are not automatically registered to vote even if:
You pay council tax
Have registered to use other council services
The easiest way to register is by going online. To register you will need your:
National Insurance number
date of birth
full address
If you cannot register online, please phone/email using the details at the bottom of this page. We can then send out a paper registration form or help you further.
You will then only need to re-register if you move house or change your name. You can update these details online.
After you have applied to register, we will need to check and process your application.
If your details match with the government records, we will confirm by post.
If your details do not match, we will ask you for ID such as:
a copy of your passport
driving licence
other documents
Your name can take up to six weeks to show on the register of electors. This is dependent on when you register to vote. Credit reference agencies receive a copy of all monthly updates and revised register to update their records.
A revised register is published each year on 1 December. You can view a printed copy of the electoral register at Torquay Library under supervision. You will need to contact the library to make an appointment. You will not be able to make a copy of the register. Only handwritten notes are allowed.
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.
Please note, in the case of a postal vote, a ballot paper will be sent to an individual in advance of the election. This will usually be 8 working days before polling day. If you will be away during this time, you may wish to consider appointing a proxy to vote on your behalf instead.
Postal votes can be sent abroad. You must be sure that there is enough time to receive and return the postal pack. If in doubt, you may wish to consider appointing a proxy to vote on your behalf.
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.
If you missed the proxy vote deadline for an election, you might still be able to get an emergency proxy vote. This is possible if you can't go to the polling station for the reasons below and you found out about this after the regular proxy vote deadline.
Find out about the elections held to elect the Member of Parliament for Torbay including the results of past elections.