Postal Voting
You can now apply online to vote by post
You can apply to vote by post for one of the following:
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a single election or referendum on a specific date
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a specific period
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a maximum period of up to three years
Apply for a postal vote
In order to apply to vote by post, you can apply online. If you are not able to complete the online application, you can download a postal vote application form. Applicants will be asked to provide their National Insurance number or to supply evidence, such as a copy of their passport or photo driving licence. This information is used to confirm the applicant's identity before allowing a postal vote.
If you have completed a paper application form, you can either send a good quality scanned attachment with a clear signature to elections@southkesteven.gov.uk. Digital signatures will be rejected. Alternatively you can post it to: Electoral Services, South Kesteven District Council, Council Offices, The Picture House, St Catherine's Road, Grantham, NG31 6TT
A postal vote can be sent to your home address or any other address you specify. If you want a postal vote sending overseas you should consider whether there would be time to receive the ballot paper and return it by the day of the poll.
You can apply for a postal vote at any time and do not need to wait until an election is approaching to apply.
Deadline to apply for a postal vote
At the time of an election, the deadline for making an application for a postal vote is 5pm 11 working days before polling day. You must also be registered to vote.
Voting by Post - receiving and returning your Postal Vote
- Registered postal voters will be sent their postal vote between 1 and 2 weeks prior to an election
- If you haven't received your postal vote pack by four working days before an election, contact us straight away.
- Your postal vote pack will contain a Postal Voting Statement form which must be completed with your date of birth and signature, together with your ballot paper(s).
- Return your completed postal vote by post using Royal Mail - allow enough time for it to arrive. It must be received by 10pm on Polling Day for it to be counted.
- Alternatively, postal votes can be handed in to an authorised officer at the Council Offices or at a polling station - you will be required to complete a Postal Vote Return Form when handing in your postal vote.
- You can only hand in up to five postal votes, plus your own to the Council Offices or a polling station.
- Postal votes must not be posted in the letter box of the council offices as they will be rejected. We are required by law to reject any postal votes delivered by hand if the Postal Vote Return Form is not completed. This is a new law introduced in 2024.
- Political parties and campaigners can only hand in postal votes for their family members, or people they provide care for.
Proxy Voting
If you are unable to vote in person you can ask someone to vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy vote.
Apply for a proxy vote
You can now apply online to vote by proxy for some types of proxy vote. Applicants will be asked to provide their National Insurance number or to supply evidence, such as a copy of their passport or photo driving licence. This information is used to confirm the applicant's identity before allowing a proxy vote.
Electors can apply for proxy votes online for the following types of proxy vote:
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Proxy vote for a particular election or referendum
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Proxy vote for definite or indefinite period for overseas, service (HM forces) and British Council/Crown Servant electors
If you are not able to complete the online application, the various types of proxy vote application forms are available below to download:
Applications for a long-term proxy vote cannot be made online and can only be made using the paper application forms, which can be downloaded below:
If you have completed a paper application form, you can either:
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Send a good quality scanned attachment with a clear signature to elections@southkesteven.gov.uk. Digital signatures will be rejected.
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Post it to: Electoral Services, South Kesteven District Council, Council Offices, The Picture House, St Catherine's Road, Grantham, NG31 6TT
An appointed proxy must be at least 18 years of age and currently registered to vote at an address in the UK.
There are limits to how many people a voter can act as a proxy for. This means a person can only act as a proxy for two people living in the UK. Anyone who acts as a proxy for people living overseas, can act as proxy for up to four people but only two of these can be based in the UK.
Deadline to apply for a proxy vote
At the time of an election, the deadline for making an application for a proxy vote for an election is 5pm six working days before polling day. However if you are already registered to vote by post, the deadline to change a postal vote to a proxy vote is 5pm, 11 working days before polling day.
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. Contact the elections team for further details.
Contact details
Email: elections@southkesteven.gov.uk
Telephone: 01476 406080 - ask for elections