Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about voting. However, if your question is not answered below contact the Electoral Services office using the contact details at the foot of the page.
These frequently asked questions have been broken down into four main headings:
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Registration to Vote
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The Electoral Register
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Postal and Proxy Voting
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Poll Cards and Polling Stations
Please scroll down to find the appropriate heading.
Registration to Vote
Q. How do I go about voting?
A. You must be on the Electoral Register for the election. Contact Electoral Services using the details at the foot of the page to request a claim form.
Q. When is the latest time I can register to vote?
A. The electoral register is updated on a monthly basis, except between August and November when councils perform an annual canvass of their area. You can register to vote in future elections at any time of the year.
The final day for registration for a specific election is 11 working days before the date of that election. However, if you would like a postal vote, we would suggest that you register before this date if you can.
Q. Can I still vote if I move overseas?
A. If you are a British National living overseas you are entitled to vote in UK General Elections and European Union Elections for up to 15 years after moving abroad. Overseas electors cannot vote at local government elections. If you are service/crown personnel this does not apply to you and you will need to refer to the FAQ on Voter registration for Service/Crown Personnel.
In order to register as an overseas voter you will need to contact the electoral registration office at the local council covering the address for where you were last registered with in the UK. They will send you out the forms that you need in order to register. Alternatively the form can be downloaded from About My Vote (this link opens in a new window) . Registration forms may also be available from the British Diplomatic Mission in the country where you are residing.
If you have never been registered as an elector in the UK, you will not be eligible to register as an overseas voter. However, if you left the UK before you were 18 years of age you can register at your parents or guardians' address, providing that you left the country no more than 15 years ago. You will need to contact the electoral registration office at the local council where your parents or guardian were last registered.
Overseas electors can apply to vote by post or proxy. Postal votes are sent out approximately one week before polling day, so if you are not likely to be able to receive and return a postal vote in that time, it would be better to appoint a proxy.
Q. I'm a Crown Servant/I'm in the forces, how do I register to vote?
A. If you are overseas serving in the Armed Forces or with Her Majesty's Government then you will be entitled to vote in General, Local and European Elections in the UK. In order to register as a service/crown voter you will need to complete a service declaration each year you are abroad. These are available from About My Vote (this page opens in a new window), Could we activate this link your unit or from electoral registration officers. You need to register at an address where you have lived in the past or where you would live if you were not posted overseas (most people choose the local council area they feel most connected to). You can apply to vote by post or proxy. Postal votes are sent out approximately one week before polling day, so if you are not likely to be able to receive and return a postal vote in that time, it would be better to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf. Proxy voters do not need to live in the same area you are registered in, and can apply to vote by post on your behalf.
Service personnel and their spouses resident in the UK may register in either of two ways. They may be included on the annual register of electors form which is sent to every household in the autumn, or they may register as service voters as described above. Both forms of registration last for one year and must be renewed in order to remain registered. Electors registered either way may apply to vote by post or proxy.
The Electoral Register
Q. What is the electoral register?
A. The electoral register is the list of everyone who is registered to vote in a council area. You must be on the electoral register to vote at elections, and not being on the register can also affect your credit rating. You are not automatically registered, even if you pay council tax.
Electoral registration takes place on a local basis by each local council electoral registration office. You may have moved house or perhaps are unsure if you are registered. You can check this by contacting Electoral Services using the details below.
There are two versions of the register - the full version and the edited version. Your details will appear on the full version of the register, but you can choose whether or not your details appear on the edited register by ticking the 'opt out' box on your registration form. The full register is used for elections, preventing and detecting crime, and checking applications for credit. The edited register is available for general sale and can be used for commercial activities such as marketing.
Q. Can I search the electoral register online?
A. Electoral registration is performed locally by the local council electoral registration office for each area, and there is currently no official centralised register of electoral that can be searched online.
However there are now two register of electors, a full register which includes the names of all those registered to vote and is only available for electoral and limited statutory purposes, and an edited register which is for sale to anyone for any purpose and includes the names of those who have not "opted out" of their details being included on it. Therefore it is possible to search the edited register using online commercial organisations, but it is not possible to search the full register in this way, as they are only available to view in hard copy at each local council electoral registration office.
Q. Why can't I get credit?
A. There may be a number of reasons for this, some of which have nothing to do with the register of electors. However if you have been told by a bank or credit reference agency that you have been denied credit because they are unable to verify your details on the register of electors this is because the register of electors is often used for credit referencing purposes to counteract fraud. In this case you will need to contact the electoral registration office using the contact details below for confirmation that you are registered. They will be able to supply you with a letter confirming your details on the register of electors. Sometimes the records maintained by credit reference agencies are incorrect. They should be able to supply you with a copy of your record so that you can check the details.
If you have already provided confirmation of registration to your bank or credit reference agency then any further problems will have to be taken up with them, not with your electoral registration officer.
If you are not registered as an elector then you will need to contact the electoral registration office for the necessary forms. You are not automatically included on the electoral register if you are paying council tax and you need to complete an electoral registration form.
Postal and Proxy Voting
Q. How do I become a postal voter?
A. Complete and return the postal voting application form [PDF] (12k) to reach us no later than 5 p.m. 11 working days before an election. You must supply your date of birth and signature on your application. These details will be required again on the postal voting statement which will be sent with your ballot papers.
Q. When will my postal ballot papers arrive?
A. Postal ballot papers will be sent out 1st class from 10 days before the election onwards. If you will be away 5 working days before the election, then you should apply for a proxy vote (see below).
Q. What do I do if my postal ballot papers do not arrive at least 5 days before an election?
A. Contact the Electoral Services Office using the details below.
Q. What should I do if my ballot paper is torn or damaged?
A. Under certain circumstances it is possible to issue a replacement. Please keep the torn/damaged ballot paper and contact the Electoral Services Office using the details below.
Q. What do I do if the ballot paper is not addressed to me? Can I still use it?
A. No. It is an offence to use a ballot paper issues to somebody else. Please return it to the Electoral Services Office, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, GU2 4BB.
Q. What is a proxy vote? How do I receive one?
A. If you cannot attend the Polling Station in person, you can nominate somebody to vote for you. This is known as a proxy vote.
You can apply for a proxy vote for
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all future elections;
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a specific election; or
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until a fixed date.
If you are applying for a proxy for all future elections your application will need to be attested. Full details are contained in the proxy application form [PDF] (131k). You can also apply for a postal vote for your nominated proxy.
Q. I cannot provide a signature, can I still vote by post or proxy?
A. You can apply for a waiver postal vote [PDF] (10k) or waiver proxy vote [PDF] (10k). A friend or relative will need to assist you in filling in the form. The person helping you must state the reason that you cannot provide a signature, together with their name and address.
Q. On the polling day I cannot get to the polling station due to unforeseen health reasons. Can I still vote?
A. If due to health reasons you cannot attend the polling station on the day. it is possible to apply for an emergency proxy vote up until 5 pm on polling day. The emergency proxy vote is only for people who could not have applied earlier due to health reasons. If you could have applied before the deadline of 5 working days before the election your application may be refused.
An emergency proxy vote must be attested by a qualified person either a Doctor, Registered Nurse or Christian Science practitioner. If you live in a residential care home or sheltered accommodation the warden or head of home can support the application. For an emergency proxy application form contact Electoral Services on 01483 444115.
Q. How do I find out if I am already registered for a postal or proxy vote?
A. Poll cards will be delivered shortly before the election which will inform whether you already have a postal or proxy vote.
Q. I have an existing postal vote and would like to re-directed to another address for this election, is this possible?
A. Yes. You can fill in a postal vote re-direction form, but you must give a reason why your postal vote is being redirected. For an postal vote re-direction form contact Electoral Services using the details below.
Q. I have an existing postal vote. Can I still vote at a polling station?
A. No, you will not be able to vote at a polling station. You may hand deliver your postal ballot paper to the Presiding Officer at the polling station in your electoral area.
Q. I have an existing proxy vote. Can I still vote at a polling station?
A. Yes, if your proxy is not voting by post. Please let your proxy know if you are intending to vote so that they don't have a wasted trip.
Q. How do I cancel my exising postal or proxy vote?
A. You must write to the Electoral Services Office, Millmead House, Guildford, stating that you wish to cancel your postal vote and provide your address and signature. Individual signatures are required to cancel each elector's postal or proxy vote. Notification must be received by 11 working days before the election.
Poll Cards and Polling Stations
Q. Why have I not received a poll card?
A. You are probably not on the Guildford Borough Electoral Register. If you wish to vote in elections you need to register as a voter. The deadline for registration is 11 working days before an election. Contact the Electoral Services office using the details below, stating your name and address to request a claim form.
Q. I have recently moved house and the poll card I have received shows my old address, what should I do?
A. You should register to vote at your new address. Make sure that you provide your previous address on your new registration form. If you fail to register at your new address by 11 working days before an election, you will have to travel to your previous polling station to vote.
Q. I have recently moved house and received two sets of poll cards, one for my new and one for my old address, what should I do?
A. If you have not informed us of your previous address you will be registered twice. Please return your poll card showing your old address to the electoral services office as soon as possible with correspondence advising of your move and new address. It is an offence to vote twice in the same election.
Q. Where is my pollling station?
A. Details of your polling station will be on your poll card, or contact the Electoral Services Office using the details below.
Q. Do I have to bring my poll card to the polling station to vote?
A. No. You will be asked to provide your name and address before you are allowed to vote.
Q. I have never voted before, what do I do when I get to the Polling station?
A. The following summarises the procedure at a polling station, but if you need help or assistance just ask the polling station staff - they are there to assist you if you require help:
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If you have received a poll card take it with you and show it to the Presiding Officer;
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A member of the polling staff will confirm with you your name and address, write your elector number on a list and issue you with your ballot paper(s);
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Go to the polling booth and vote in secret;
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Fold the ballot paper(s) in half and place in the ballot box
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Leave the polling station.
It is possible that a 'teller' will ask you for your elector number to mark on their list that you have voted. You do not have to give them your number, if you prefer not to. If you do, they will not be able to determine how you have voted.
Electoral Services Unit
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 4BB
Tel: 01483 444115
Email: electoralservices@guildford.gov.uk