Elections and voting

Voters have a range of options for casting their ballot:

• in person
• by post
• by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy.

Voting In Person

You can vote at the polling station within your ward, this station will be identified on your poll card. Polling stations are open 7am to 10pm.

• Polling stations for the UK Parliamentary election on Thursday 4 July 

Please remember, you will be required to show an official form of photographic identification (ID) when you vote in person at a polling station.

Acceptable forms of ID include:

• a passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country
• a driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or an EEA state
• a biometric immigration document
• an identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• a Blue Badge
• a national identity card issued by an EEA state
• an Older Person's Bus Pass
• a Disabled Person's Bus Pass
• an Oyster 60+ Card
• a Freedom Pass
• a Scottish National Entitlement Card issued in Scotland
• a 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
• a Disabled Person's Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales
• a Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• a Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person's SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• a War Disablement SmartPass or War Disabled SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• a 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• a Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
• an Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland

If you do not have any of the accepted forms of ID you can apply online for a free Voter Authority Certificate (opens new window) - this is a photographic identity document specifically for the purpose of voting.

Voting by post

Postal voting packs are sent between 12 and 6 working days before election day and include a prepaid envelope for their return. Your postal vote must be returned before the deadline, 10pm on 4 Thursday 4 July, or it will not be counted.

If you miss the post, you can hand deliver your postal vote and the postal vote of up to 5 other people at the locations below during the stated times. You must complete and sign a declaration form when handing in postal vote(s). If the declaration form is not completed the postal vote(s) will be rejected.
 

• Postal votes can be hand delivered to our council offices at the Town Hall, Great Yarmouth NR30 2QF. Postal votes can only be hand delivered to this location during normal business hours. Postal votes must be handed in and a declaration signed in order to be valid. Please do not post your postal vote(s) through the on-site letter box as they will be rejected. 
• On polling day, you can hand in postal votes to any polling station in the electoral area between 7am and 10pm. You must complete and sign a declaration, which will be available from the polling station staff. 

Please note there are different rules for political campaigners, you can find further details by viewing the Electoral Commission Code of Conduct for Campaigners (opens new window)

The deadline for new postal and postal proxy applications, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes, for the forthcoming general election is 5pm on Wednesday 19 June. You can apply for a postal vote online -   apply for a postal vote (opens new window)

Voting by proxy

If you are not able to vote in person at a polling station and you do not wish to vote by post, you can appoint someone else to vote for you. 

Proxy voting means asking someone to vote on your behalf at the polling station. A proxy vote counts the same as any other vote and is subject to the same security and secrecy provisions.

If you apply for a proxy vote you will have to provide a reason, for example you may be working or studying away from home or on holiday. You will need to nominate someone to vote on your behalf according to your wishes.

The deadline for new proxy vote applications (not including postal proxy) for the forthcoming general election is 5pm on Wednesday 26 June. You can apply for a proxy vote online - apply for a proxy vote (opens new window)