Postal and Proxy Voting

Anyone who is registered to vote can apply to vote by post.

You can apply for a particular election or referendum, for a specific time period, or for a permanent postal vote.

To apply for postal voting you must download and fill in all sections. Once complete, print the application and sign it.

Download the postal vote application

Filling in the application

The application form includes instructions on how to fill it in correctly.

You must complete all sections of the application including your date of birth and signature. These are used to confirm your identity when you vote by post.

If you can't access the postal vote application

If you're unable to print the application form or need it in an accessible format, contact our electoral services team  

You can scan your completed form to: elections@midsussex.gov.uk

Or you can return by post to

Electoral Services
Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands, Oaklands Road
Haywards Heath
RH16 1SS

The cut-off time for requesting a postal vote is 5pm – 11 working days before the day of the election.

When an election or referendum is going to be held, your ballot paper will be sent to you in the post (no later than 9 days before polling day).

The ballot paper can be sent to:

• Your home address
• A different address where you will be staying on the day of the election
• An address abroad

Please note:

• The cut-off time for requesting a postal vote is 5pm – 11 working days before the day of the election.
• Postal votes cannot be sent until after the candidate nomination process has closed and ballot papers have been printed.
• If you are abroad – and outside Europe – you may not have enough time to send back your ballot paper before the election. It may be better to apply for a proxy vote instead. See proxy voting for more information.

Read more on how to vote by post

Proxy voting is asking a trusted person to vote on your behalf.

If you know that you won’t be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote for you.

To apply for a proxy vote, you must complete the application below. You will need to give a reason why you can't get to your polling station in person. This could be because you're on holiday or away for work.

Use this form to apply for a proxy vote for a specific election or referendum.

Download the proxy vote application form

You can scan your completed form to: elections@midsussex.gov.uk

Or you can return by post to

Electoral Services
Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands, Oaklands Road
Haywards Heath
RH16 1SS

The cut-off time for requesting a proxy vote is 5pm  – 6 working days before polling day.

If you have an emergency that means you cannot go to the polling station in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy up to 5pm on the day of the poll.

This must be something that you weren't aware of before the normal proxy vote deadline.

To apply for an emergency proxy, download and complete one of the application forms below.

• Emergency proxy for a disability or medical emergency
• Emergency proxy based on COVID-19
• Emergency proxy for occupation, service or employment

These applications can be made up to 5pm on polling day.

You can scan your completed form to: elections@midsussex.gov.uk

Or you can return by post to

Electoral Services
Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands, Oaklands Road
Haywards Heath
RH16 1SS

If you have nominated a proxy, but then change your mind and wish to vote yourself, you can apply to cancel your proxy vote by contacting the electoral team.

The deadline to cancel a proxy vote is before 5pm, 11 working days before the election.

For more details on different ways to cancel your proxy vote please visit the Electoral Commission: Proxy Voting

Tel: 01444-477003
Email: elections@midsussex.gov.uk