Guide to voting
Read our guidance and answers to frequently asked questions on the voting process
How do I vote?
If your name is on the electoral register and you are 18 or over, then you should receive a poll card before the election. The poll card will give you information about the date of the election, the hours of poll and the name of your polling station. Your poll card is for information only so don't worry if you lose it or forget it, you can still vote without it.
When you get to your polling station, the clerk will confirm your name and address and check that your name is on the register. They will then check your photo ID and give you a ballot paper.
The ballot paper will say how many candidates you can vote for. Take the ballot paper into a polling booth and put a cross [X] in the box next to the name of the candidate(s) you want to vote for.
Do not write anything else on your ballot paper or your vote won't be counted. Once you have voted you must fold the ballot paper to hide your vote and then put it in the ballot box. If there is more than one election happening on the same day (such as a parish and district election) then you may have more than one ballot paper to complete. If this is the case, these ballot papers will go in separate boxes.
Voting by post
Providing you are registered correctly, you can apply to vote by post if you cannot get to the polling station to vote or if you find it more convenient.
If you are not sure if you are on the Electoral Register, we can check for you.
Your ballot papers will be posted to you before an election, along with a statement asking you to provide your date of birth and signature for security.
Apply to vote by post online
You'll need:
- The address where you are registered to vote
- National insurance number
- You'll also need to upload a photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper.
Alternatively, you can download and print a paper application form from the Electoral Commission website: Download a postal vote application form. Completed application forms can be returned by email, as a scan or clear photograph, or by post.
Electoral Services
Town Hall
Grove Road
Eastbourne
BN21 4UG
Eastbourne Email: elections@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk
Lewes Email: elections@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk
Voting by proxy
Proxy voting is when you get someone you trust to vote on your behalf. You should not be asked or told to appoint someone as a proxy voter: it is your choice alone and you should only appoint someone you trust.
Your proxy must be a registered elector but does not need to live in Eastbourne or Lewes. However, please bear in mind that your proxy will need to attend your polling station on your behalf, unless your appointed proxy applies for a postal vote.
For more information on proxy voting please visit the Electoral Commission website How to vote by proxy - Electoral Commission.
Providing you are on the Electoral Register you can apply for a proxy vote.
If you are not sure if you are on the Electoral Register, we can check for you.
Apply to vote by proxy
Before you start:
Ask your proxy's permission before you apply. You'll need:
- your national insurance number or any other identity document, for example a birth certificate
- the address where your proxy is registered to vote
- contact details for your proxy
You'll also need to upload a photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper.
Alternatively, you can download and print a paper application form from the Electoral Commission website: Proxy application form. Completed application forms can be returned by email, as a scan or clear photograph, or by post.
Electoral Services
Town Hall
Grove Road
Eastbourne
BN21 4UG
Eastbourne Email: elections@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk
Lewes Email: elections@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk
Emergency Proxy Voting
In certain circumstances, where you have an emergency that means you can't vote in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy.
This must be something that you weren't aware of before the normal proxy vote deadline, usually 5pm, 6 working days before the election. Emergency proxy applications can be made up to 5pm on polling day.
By law, there are certain circumstances where you may be able to apply for an emergency proxy. They include:
- Medical Emergency
- You are away for work
- Your photo ID is lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged.
For more information on Emergency Proxy Voting visit the Electoral Commission website Emergency proxy vote
I'm going to be away on polling day, can I still vote?
Yes - you will need to apply for a proxy or postal vote. You must do this as soon as possible as we cannot accept postal vote applications, or cancel current postal vote arrangements, after 5pm 11 working days before the election or proxy vote applications received after 5pm 6 working days before polling day.
Important: Please note that we strongly advise that you appoint a proxy rather than electing to vote by post - statutory electoral timetables dictate when we can begin sending postal votes, so depending on when you leave for your holiday and the postal service we cannot make any guarantee that your postal vote will arrive in time for your departure.
I live overseas, can I register?
British Citizens living abroad
Registering to vote
If you live overseas, you can register to vote in UK Parliamentary elections if you are both:
- A British citizen. This includes eligible Irish citizens (someone who was born in Northern Ireland, who is an Irish citizen and also qualifies as a British citizen) and citizens of Crown Dependencies
- And, have previously been registered to vote in the UK or have lived in the UK
To register to vote at a UK Parliament election, you need to complete an application. You can apply:
When applying, you need to provide the last UK address you lived at or were registered to vote at. You also need to provide your National Insurance number and date of birth. These are used to verify your identity.
Alongside your application to register, you need to submit an overseas declaration. This must include:
- Your full name and current address for correspondence
- A statement declaring you are a British Citizen
- A statement explaining if you are registering to vote based on if you were previously registered to vote in the UK or that you previously lived in the UK
- Your British passport details, even if your passport is expired
- If you do not have a passport, you need to include a statement to explain your citizenship status and the date and place you were born
- A statement that you believe the information stated in the declaration to be true
- The date of the declaration
You may be asked to provide evidence to prove your eligibility. If you need to provide evidence, you can do so during the online application process. You can also send evidence by email, post or by hand. If your last UK address was in the Eastbourne or Lewes area.
You can apply to vote by post or by proxy. You can also vote in person if you will be in the UK on polling day. You cannot vote in person at a British embassy, high commission or consulate.
To apply to vote by post or proxy, you need to complete a separate application alongside applying to vote as an overseas voter.
Important: Please note that we strongly advise that you appoint a proxy rather than electing to vote by post - as, depending on the postal service to and from your country of residence, there may not be time for you to complete and return your ballot papers.
If you were too young to have registered to vote in the UK before you left, you will also need to include your parent's or guardian's details and a copy of your birth certificate.
Can anyone vote?
No - to vote in elections and referendums you have to be 18 or over. You must also be:
- British citizen
- Irish citizen
- Commonwealth citizen (including Maltese and Cypriot) who has permission to enter or staying the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who does not need permission
- European Union (EU) citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, or Spain who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who does not need permission (you can vote in local council and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, and Mayor of London and London Assembly elections only)
- European Union (EU) citizen of any other EU country who on or before 31 December 2020 had permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who did not need permission, and this has continued without a break (you can vote in local council and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, and Mayor of London and London Assembly elections only).
Permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man (also called Leave to Enter or Remain) refers to a legal immigration status.
Your name must be on the register of electors, otherwise, even if you meet the above criteria, you will not be able to vote.
Special Category Electors
If you are in one of the following categories then you can be on the electoral register by applying online.
- HM Forces service voters (and their spouses or civil partners)
- Crown servants and British Council employees (and their spouses or civil partners)
- Patients in mental hospitals whose stay at the hospital is sufficient for them to be regarded as resident there
- Remand prisoners whose stay at a penal institution is sufficient for them to be regarded as resident there
People living in the UK who have no permanent or fixed address who can register by means of a 'declaration of local connection' - please note, this category cannot register online, to register please request a paper form from our offices.
Does it matter if I lose my poll card?
No - you can still vote without it. Your poll card is for information only. It does make it easier if you take it to the polling station and show it to the clerk, but they will still be able to confirm you are on the register and issue your ballot paper to you without it.
Who are the people who ask for my poll number outside the polling station?
These people are called tellers and are used by political parties to help with their election campaigns. They have no standing in electoral law and are not connected with the official election process. You don't have to give them your poll number if you don't want to.
Are there any special arrangements for voters with disabilities?
Yes - each polling station will have one booth that is wider and has a lower writing shelf designed for voters using a wheelchair. If a polling station has alternative access for wheelchair users this will be signposted.
For voters with sight difficulties there is a large version of the ballot paper available to read, although the ballot paper issued will be the same for everyone. A tactile device with both raised and Braille numbers which can be attached to the ballot paper is also available at each polling station, along with a QR code which can be scanned to read out the candidates standing for election and the order they are in on the ballot paper.
If you would like to know whether disabled car parking and toilet facilities are available at your polling station, and what if any, accessibility issues you might encounter please contact us.
The Presiding Officer or a voter's companion can assist a voter with disabilities. Anyone who helps a voter in this way must be an eligible elector and will be required to complete a declaration at the polling station. Alternatively, you can apply for a postal vote or appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf.
What happens if I make a mistake on my ballot paper?
If you make a mistake on your ballot paper show it to the clerk at the polling station and ask for another one - do not put the spoilt paper in the ballot box. The clerk will issue you with a new paper and put your spoilt paper in a sealed envelope.
What happens after the voting has finished?
Immediately after voting has finished, the ballot box is sealed by the staff to ensure that nothing can be added to or taken from the box.
The box is taken to the count centre where the contents are counted with the ballot papers from other polling stations and the postal votes.
The candidate who receives the most votes is declared the winner and is elected to the position contested. Where more than one vacancy is being contested, there will be more than one winner - for example in a two-member ward the candidates with the most and the second most votes will be elected.
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