How to apply for, change and renew your proxy vote or apply for an emergency proxy.
A proxy can either vote on your behalf at your polling station in Bristol or by post. If they want to vote by post they'll have to have a postal proxy.
Who can apply for a proxy vote
To apply for a proxy vote, both you and your proxy must be registered to vote.
Your proxy can't vote on behalf of more than two people who live in the UK.
Apply for a proxy vote
You can apply to vote by proxy for:
- one election
- a set period of time
- the maximum period, up to three years
Each person requiring a proxy vote must fill in a form.
After you've applied
We'll confirm to you and your proxy that your proxy arrangement is in place, there may not be time to do this just before an election.
We'll send a proxy poll card to the person you nominated with details of how to vote.
Your nominated person will have to go to your polling station to vote, not their own polling station. If your proxy wishes to vote by post they will need to contact us to request a postal-proxy application form.
Your proxy will need to show their own photo ID to vote on your behalf at the polling station.
Change your proxy vote
To change your proxy vote for one election you'll need to complete a new proxy vote application.
Apply for an emergency proxy vote
As the proxy vote deadline has passed, you may be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote if any of the following apply:
- you cannot vote in person because of a medical emergency or disability
- you cannot vote in person because of your employment
- the photo ID you were planning on using to vote has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed
- you've not yet received a new or replacement photo ID you've ordered
This must be something that you weren't aware of before the normal proxy vote deadline, 5pm on Wednesday 23 April 2025. Emergency proxy applications can be made up to 5pm on polling day.
Fill in a paper form to:
- apply to vote by emergency proxy based on your employment
- apply to vote by emergency proxy based on a medical emergency or disability
- apply to vote by emergency proxy because you do not have an available photo ID
Send your form to the Electoral Services team:
- by email to electoral.services@bristol.gov.uk
- by post or in person to Electoral Services, Bristol City Council, 5th Floor, B Bond Warehouse, Smeaton Road, Bristol, BS1 6XN
If you're applying for an emergency proxy vote because of a medical emergency, disability or your employment, your application form must be signed by an ‘appropriate person' (for example your employer or a doctor).
Privacy notice
Read our privacy statement and our pdf privacy notice for Electoral Services 2021(179 KB) to see what we do with your personal information.