Ways to vote

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The Electoral Commission - Who can vote

Voting in person

Where to vote

When you vote in person, you go to the polling station allocated to you based on your address on the electoral register. Details of where to vote will be on your polling card and you can also check by constituency below.

Remember to bring your photo ID

Photographic identification is required to vote in person. There are some examples of accepted photo ID on our Voter ID page.

What to expect at the polling station

If you need any help, please ask a member of staff at the polling station who will be happy to help you. There is also a handy video produced by the Electoral Commission.

Find out more about voting in person and what to expect on The Electoral Commission website.

Postal voting

If you are unable to attend a polling station during election time or would rather vote by post, you can be added to the Absent Voters List.

A postal voter is an elector to whom the Returning Officer sends a ballot paper through the normal post, together with necessary return envelopes and other documents a few days before polling day. Having received their postal ballot paper(s) they need to be completed, along with any accompanying paperwork in the privacy of their own home and then returns the papers through the normal post to the Returning Officer by the close of poll on the day of the election.

Any person who is included in the Register of Electors can apply for a postal vote. If you are not registered, please Register to Vote on the GOV.UK website.

Postal vote applications can be made online, please note that you will need to have a scanned copy of your signature available on your device that you can upload with your application. Or you can download an application if you would prefer to complete a paper form.

You can find the online application or a form that you can download on the Apply for a postal vote page on GOV.UK.

Following changes, you will now need to enter your National Insurance number to apply for a postal vote.

All postal votes will now also expire after three years, so you will need to reapply if you wish to continue voting by post. We will send you reminders when your postal voting status is nearing its expiry date.

Where to return your Postal Vote

If you decide to download and complete a paper form, please return it to your constituency office address which you can find in the contact section below.

Postal voters cannot vote at the polling station, but their completed postal packs can be handed in at a polling station. If a person loses or spoils their postal ballot papers after receiving them, contact your constituency Electoral Services Team immediately by using the details below.

Cancelling your postal vote

If you no longer wish to vote by post please email us stating your full name, your registered address and your request that your postal voting status be removed.

Please ensure that you take note of key dates during election times as it will not be possible to cancel or amend your postal voting status after a certain date. All key dates will be included on the councils website and on your poll card on the run-up to an election.

If you have any queries regarding your postal vote please contact us at 0300 123 2224.

Changes to postal voting

If you are planning to cast your vote by post, rather than in person, you need to be aware of some recent changes. New laws have come into force which mean that when someone hands in a postal vote at a reception point or at a polling station, a Postal Vote Return form must now also be completed. Postal Vote Return forms are not required when using Royal Mail to return your postal vote.

Voters are encouraged to use Royal Mail and post their vote in good time for it to be counted. Postal votes receive a speedy service from Royal Mail and are easily identified by the purple flashes marked on the envelopes to avoid delays. They are delivered up to 9.30pm on polling day which is why Royal Mail should be the preferred method of returning them.

You can check your nearest post box and collection times via Royal Mail’s Services near you webpage.

Postal votes cannot be left at Council Office post boxes. Postal votes can still be handed in during office hours at four council office locations only (see below) or at a Polling Station on election day. However, when you hand them in voters are required to complete an additional Postal Voter Form with a member of staff to validate the Postal Vote. We therefore recommend using Royal Mail to avoid this additional step.

Any postal votes that are just left at council offices or put in council office post boxes, will be rejected.

Voting by proxy

If you are unable to attend a polling station during election time or would rather vote by proxy, you can be added to the Absent Voters list.

Any person who is included in the Register of Electors can appoint another person on the register to vote on their behalf; this person is then known as a proxy voter. The number of people that a proxy can vote on behalf of is restricted if the proxy is not related to the applicant. However, if the proxy is directly related such as mother, father, brother or sister the proxy is able to vote on behalf of them all.

Proxy vote applications can be made online, please note that you will need to have a scanned copy of your signature available on your device that you can upload with your application. Or you can download an application if you would prefer to complete a paper form.

You can find the online application or a form that you can download on the Apply for a proxy vote page on GOV.UK.

Where to return your Proxy Vote

If you decide to download and complete a paper form, please return it to your constituency council office address which you can find in the contacts section below.

All proxy vote applications must be received by 5pm, 6 working days before polling day. However, proxy applications on certain emergency grounds can be applied for up to 5pm on polling day.

Please contact your constituency elections team if a situation has arisen and you are no longer able to get to your polling station.

Contact details for each constituency in Somerset

Bridgwater

Email: electionsnorth@somerset.gov.uk
Address: Council Offices, Bridgwater House, King Square, Bridgwater, TA6 3AR

Frome and East Somerset

Email: electionseast@somerset.gov.uk
Address: Council Offices, Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5BT

Glastonbury and Somerton

Email: electionssouth@somerset.gov.uk
Address: Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil, BA20 2HT

Taunton and Wellington

Email: electionswest@somerset.gov.uk
Address: West Somerset House, Killick Way, Williton, TA4 4QA

Tiverton and Minehead (including mid-Devon)

Email: electionswest@somerset.gov.uk
Address: West Somerset House, Killick Way, Williton, TA4 4QA

Wells and Mendip Hills

Email: electionseast@somerset.gov.uk
Address: Council Offices, Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5BT

Yeovil

Email: electionssouth@somerset.gov.uk
Address: Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil, BA20 2HT

If you have any other election queries and you would like to speak to someone, please phone 0300 123 2224.

Last reviewed: July 9, 2024 by Adam

Next review due: January 9, 2025