[category]
[title]
Last week (on May 22), current prime minister Rishi Sunak called a general election. After months of speculation about whether it would take place in May, November, October or even January next year, the PM took everyone by surprise and announced that a genny lec will take place on July 4.
July is peak summer holiday time – but don’t worry if you’ve already booked a getaway. There are still multiple ways you can make sure you get your voice heard.
If you’ll be out of the country, or won’t be able to get to a polling station for any reason in July, make sure to register for an absent vote – either by post or by proxy. Here’s everything you need to know about registering to do that.
RECOMMENDED:
UK General Election 2024: date, odds and everything you need to know.
Here’s how to vote in the UK's 2024 General Election, including eligibility, proxy voting and ID needed.
How to register for a postal vote
If you want to vote by post, you’ll need to apply through a form on the Government’s website here. There’s a few things you’ll need to have to hand when you do this application:
- The address you’re registered to vote at
- Your national insurance number, or your passport number
- The date of the election you want to vote in by post – that’s July 4 for the general election
- A photo of your signature in black ink
If you’re in Northern Ireland you’ll need to go through this webpage instead. If you can’t apply online for some reason, there are also PDFs you can download and fill in physically on the above websites.
When’s the postal vote deadline for the 2024 general election?
Your deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm 11 working days before the election, which is June 19.
If you’re in Northern Ireland, the deadline is June 15 at 5pm. Don’t delay though, it’s better to get your application in ASAP if you know you’ll need an absent vote.
Who is eligible for a postal vote?
Anyone who is eligible to vote can apply for an absent vote. You may need to give a reason if you are in Northern Ireland.
Can I take my postal vote to a polling station?
If you end up not being able to post your postal vote before election day, you can take it to your local polling station before 10pm on the day of the election.
You can also take it to your local Electoral Registration Office – find out where yours is here (or here for our faithful Northern Irish readers).
The government urges you to post your vote asap once you’ve received it to make sure that it is definitely counted.
What about proxy voting?
A proxy vote is when you get someone else to vote on your behalf. As above, you can apply for a proxy vote through a form on the government’s website here (and Northern Ireland here) Both you and your proxy will need to be registered to vote, and you’ll need the following info:
- Your national insurance number, or an alternative identity document such as your birth certificate
- The address where your proxy is registered to vote
- Contact details for your proxy
Make sure to ask your proxy if they’re up for the job before putting down their name.
The deadline to register for a proxy vote is five working days before the election, in this case Friday June 28 at 5pm.
Did you see that these are the 10 best UK universities for studying medicine in 2025?
Plus: UK cities are getting loads of free Olympic fan zones this summer.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.