How to vote

Voting at a polling station

You will receive a polling card with details of your polling station. Please check this carefully as your usual polling station may have changed. You may still vote without your polling card.

Polling stations open from 7am to 10pm on the day of the election.

If you are unable to get to the polling station on the day of the election there are other options on this page. A video from the Electoral Commission on YouTube has useful information about absent voting (voting by proxy or postal vote):

Registering to vote

Most people are registered at their current address, but you need to check if you have recently moved house, changed your name or nationality, or recently turned 18. If you are unsure if you are registered, you can contact us using our general enquiries form.

Voting by post (postal vote)

Any person on the register can apply for a postal vote. The deadline for applications is 11 working days before the day of an election.

Applying for a postal vote

Please contact us by using our general enquiries form if you would like an application form.

Downloading a postal vote application form

You can download a form, complete it and return it by post to us.

• Address: Democratic Services, Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Portal, Wellington Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA

Alternatively, you can scan/photograph and send it to us by email: elreg@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

Proxy voting

You can appoint someone to vote on your behalf at your usual polling station, but you have to provide a reason to vote by proxy for a single election. You can only vote by proxy on an indefinite basis for the following reasons: physical incapacity, overseas voter, studying at university and certain occupations such as armed forces.

You need to tell your proxy which candidate or candidates you wish to vote for.

If you change your mind and wish to vote in person, you can still do so, providing that your proxy has not already voted on your behalf.

Downloading a proxy vote application form

You can download a form, complete it and return it by post to us.

• Address: Democratic Services, Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Portal, Wellington Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA

Alternatively, you can scan and send it to us using our general enquiries form.

Emergency proxy

In the case of medical emergencies, a proxy or postal vote may be applied for up to 5pm on polling day. This application must be attested by a medical professional.

You can also apply to vote by emergency proxy if your occupation, service or employment means that you cannot go to the polling station in person, and you only became aware of that fact after the proxy vote deadline.

To apply for a proxy or postal vote, you must already be registered to vote.

Refreshing absent vote identifiers

Legislation requires the Electoral Registration Officer to conduct an annual review of every person who remains a postal ('absent') voter, and whose signature held on record is more than five years old. These will be sent a notice in writing requiring them to provide a fresh signature if they wish to retain their postal vote. The notice will require the elector to supply a specimen of their signature and if this is not received within six weeks of the date of the notice their absent voting facility will be cancelled.