Ways to vote

Voting in person

To vote in any UK election, you must be registered to vote.

If you have registered, you can vote in person at your local polling station between 7am and 10pm on polling day.  You will need to show photo ID to vote.

We will send you a poll card in the post before an election that will tell you where and when you can vote. You can still vote if you have lost your card.

We keep our polling stations as accessible as possible. The polling station Presiding Officer is also able to help you vote. If you or someone you know has an accessibility concern, you can contact us using the details below.

Postal vote

If you are registered, you can apply for a postal vote. You will need your National Insurance Number and a photo of your signature. Alternatively, you can download a postal vote form and return it to us.

Your ballot pack will be sent to you around 10 days before polling day. It will include a Freepost envelope. Make sure you post your vote so that it arrives before the close of poll.

Postal votes can be sent overseas. Make sure you leave time to receive and return your ballot paper by election day. You may need to pay postage to return your vote.

From 2 May 2024, there will be restrictions on the handing in of postal votes:

• a new criminal offence to stop political parties and campaigners handling certain completed postal voting packs
• voters should make every attempt to post their voting pack in a Royal Mail post box or post office in good time for it to be received before 10pm on polling day
• voters will not be allowed to hand in more than five postal voting packs (in addition to their own) at a polling station or a council office per election that is taking place
• a declaration form will need to be completed by the person handing in any postal voting packs to ensure they meet the new requirements
• the declaration form must be completed in full otherwise the postal voting packs being hand-delivered could all be rejected
• if postal voting packs are handed in without a declaration form being completed they will be classed as "left behind" and rejected

Proxy vote

You can nominate another registered voter to vote on your behalf. This is usually valid for one election.

You will need to apply to vote by proxy. You will be asked for your national insurance number and a photo of your signature. Alternatively, you can download a proxy vote form. The form you need will depend on your circumstances.

A permanent proxy can be appointed to you. You will need to give evidence and a reason when you apply. For more information you can visit The Electoral Commission.

Emergency proxy

In the case of an emergency, you can apply for an emergency proxy up to 5pm on the day of the poll. You can apply if you can not go to the polling station due to an illness or if you work in a specific occupation or service.

Send us your form

Please send all completed forms to electoralservices@maidstone.gov.uk.

You can post or hand-deliver to:

For more information about any of the voting options, you can email or phone the Electoral Services Office on 01622 602007