Ways you can vote
You need to be registered to vote before you can vote in UK elections or referendums.
Vote in person
Most people choose to vote in person, at a polling station.
Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day, which means you can vote at a time that's convenient to you.
When you register to vote, you will receive a poll card in the post. Your poll card will provide you with the name and address of your polling station.
You can only vote at this polling station - even if there is one nearer to your home. This is because staff at polling stations have different electoral registers and ballot papers.
When you arrive at the polling station, you will need to provide:
- your name
- your address
- valid Voter ID
you will then be issued with your ballot paper.
You do not need to take your poll card with you to vote. However, it can help polling station staff register you more quickly.
We make every effort to make sure that every polling station within the district is accessible. If you would like to check access before you visit - or need additional assistance - please contact our Elections team.
Voter ID
When you vote at a polling station, you need to take valid photo ID with you.
If you do not have any valid photo ID - but you would like to vote at a polling station - you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate.
For more information - including a full list of valid photo ID - please visit our Voter ID webpage.
If you need help voting
Voters with a disability, who need help voting, are able to choose anyone aged over 18 to come with them to the polling station.
They can also, instead, ask the person in charge of the polling station (the 'Presiding Officer') to help them mark their ballot paper. The Presiding Officer is legally bound by the Requirements for Secrecy - and the vote will remain secret.
For more information, please visit our Voting accessibility webpage.
Vote by post
If you can't visit a polling station on polling day, or would prefer not to, you can apply to vote by post.
Your ballot paper will be sent to you - by post - a week or two before polling day.
You are then able to complete your ballot paper (alongside any relevant paperwork) and send it back via post. A freepost envelope with a return address will be sent to you, alongside your ballot paper.
You are also able to hand in your ballot paper to a polling station on polling day (between 7am - 10pm). This will need to be a polling station within your own electoral area - and usually within your own ward.
The Elections Act 2022 brought some changes to how elections are run:
- postal voters must reapply to vote by post every three years
- political parties and campaigners will be banned from handling postal vote packs
- there will be a limit as to how many postal vote packs a person can hand in to a polling station
You can apply for a postal vote online. You will need to provide your National Insurance number to hand when you apply.
If you require our assistance - or are unable to apply online - please contact our Elections team on 0300 1234000 (Option 7).
Vote by proxy
When you vote by proxy, you appoint someone that you trust to vote on your behalf.
The person that you appoint can choose to cast your vote in person, or by post.
Please note that if a proxy voter wants to cast your vote in person, they will need to attend your appointed polling station.
Anyone can be a proxy voter - so long as they are eligible to vote, and are willing to vote for you.
A proxy voter cannot vote for more than two people at one election (unless the person they are voting for is a close relative).
Voting by proxy means appointing a trusted friend or relative to carry out your vote on your behalf.
Usually the proxy will go to your allocated polling station to cast your vote for you in person, but they can apply to receive your vote through the post for them to complete if this is preferred (as long as they apply for this by the relevant deadline for each election).
Applying to vote by proxy as a one-off arrangement for a specific election date is available to everyone, providing there is a valid reason.
We can also register you for proxy voting valid for a three-year period (subject to legal requirements) if:
- You regularly work away
- You are a student studying away from home
- You find it physically difficult to attend the polling station
Emergency proxy votes
You can apply for a proxy vote less than six working days before polling day (and up until 5pm on the day), under some emergency circumstances:
- In the case where a medical condition, illness or disability has arisen less than six days before polling day
- In the case where the voter is a mental health patient, who has been detained under civil powers
- In the case where the voter's occupation causes them not to be able to vote in person - and they became aware of this less than six working days before the poll
Advantages of voting by proxy
Voting by proxy can make it easier for people to vote. It may benefit you if:
- you are not able to get to your appointed polling station on polling day
- you are not well, and won't be able to vote in person on polling day
- you are overseas
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Refreshing signatures of absent voters
Each January, we send a written notice to every absent voter (postal and proxy voters) who has not updated their signature for more than five years. This notice will ask you to confirm your date of birth, and provide an up-to-date signature.
We will use this information to replace the information you provided when you originally applied to be an absent voter.
You can also use the notice to cancel your absent vote, if you no longer need it.
If you do not reply to the written notice, we will send you a reminder notice.
If you do not reply to the reminder notice, we will cancel your absent vote. You will have to vote in person, at a polling station.
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How we use your information
We collect your personal information for the following purposes:
- to carry out our statutory obligation of ensuring that all eligible persons in Babergh and Mid Suffolk are registered to vote
- to enable eligible persons to stand as candidates in elections, in accordance with statutory requirements
- to enable all registered electors to participate as voters in elections and referendums
Please read our Privacy notice for electoral registration and elections for more information.