How to vote by proxy

Voting by proxy, or proxy voting, means asking someone you trust to vote on your behalf (for you) in your polling station. 

You might choose to vote by proxy if you can't get to the polling station on the day of the election. This could be because you know you’ll be busy, or if you’re away from home.

Anyone can vote by proxy, but you’ll need to apply for a proxy vote by 5pm on Tuesday 28 April to vote by proxy in the Senedd election. 

The person you choose to vote on your behalf should be someone you trust, like a friend or a member of your family. 

You should tell them which political party or individual (independent) candidate you want to vote for. 

When you apply to vote by proxy, you will give the name of the person who you are choosing to vote on your behalf. This person will be your proxy.

You will get a polling card telling you where your polling station is even if you have appointed a proxy. Your proxy will also receive a proxy poll card telling them where to go and vote on your behalf. Your polling station might be different from theirs so they should check the location before polling day. You can find your polling station through our postcode search.

Your proxy will cast your vote on your behalf by going to your polling station. If they cannot attend your polling station, they can apply for a proxy postal vote

When the person who is voting on your behalf is in the polling station, they will need to give staff your name, and their name. 

They will then vote on your behalf in the normal way. There will be instructions about voting in the polling station, and staff at the polling station can help. 

You should talk to the person voting on your behalf about your choice before they vote. They will vote for the political party or independent candidate that you choose.

Voting by proxy is safe. You will choose someone you trust to vote on your behalf, and you will tell them who you want to vote for. 

If you’ve applied for a proxy vote, but you now want to vote yourself, you can go to your polling station, but only if your proxy has not already voted on your behalf. 

If you change your mind about who should vote on your behalf, or the person you chose can’t go to vote, you should speak with your local electoral services department (the people who run elections in your area) 

Most people can vote on someone else's behalf as a proxy. To be someone’s proxy, you have to be: 

• 16 years old or older 

• Registered to vote 

• Able to get to the polling station on the day of the election 

• Allowed to vote in the election 

For Senedd elections, you can be a proxy for your close relatives, and up to 2 other people. 

Speak to your council if you have questions about voting by proxy.

You can apply for an emergency proxy vote up to 5pm on the day of the election. You must have a valid reason for doing so.

You can only apply for an emergency proxy vote if:

• You have a medical emergency

• You have a disability

• You're away for work

The reason for applying for an emergency proxy vote has to have happened after the deadline for applying for a proxy vote.

You can find out more about the rules about emergency proxy voting on the Electoral Commission website.

The person voting on your behalf as a proxy can apply to vote by post.

They will need to fill in a postal vote application form before the deadline, 5pm on 21 April.