For UK Parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, you need to take photo ID to confirm your identity before you can vote in person at a polling station. Find out
what type of photo ID is accepted.
You will need to register to vote 12 working days before polling day.
Voting in person
When you vote in person, you go to the polling station allocated to you. This is based on your address on the electoral register.
Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day and are usually public buildings like schools or local halls.
Before you go to vote, check where your polling station is. It might not be the closest one to where to you live, and it might have changed since the last time you voted.
You can only vote in person at your allocated polling station.
Your polling station address will be on your poll card. We will send the card by post a few weeks before polling day.
For UK Parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, you need to take photo ID to confirm your identity before you can vote.
What to expect at the polling station
You will need to give your name and address to the staff inside the polling station when you arrive. Depending on which election is being held, you might have to show your photo ID.
You will be given a ballot paper which has details of how to vote and the voting options for the poll or referendum. If you need any help to cast your vote, please ask the staff in the polling station.
Voting by post
You can apply to vote by post for:
- a single election on a specific date
- a specific period, or
- permanently
You will be a sent a postal vote ballot pack before the election.
Apply to vote by post for Senedd, Cardiff Council and Community Council Elections
The application form has instructions on how to fill it in correctly.
You will need to provide your date of birth and sign your application form. These are used to confirm your identity when you vote by post.
If you cannot sign the form or cannot sign in a consistent way, please contact us.
If you cannot download and print this form, you can contact us to request a print of this form.
Completing and returning your postal vote
When voting by post, you should:
- mark your vote on your ballot paper in secret
- fill in the postal voting statement
- put the ballot and statement in the envelope provided
- seal the envelope yourself
Post your ballot back as quickly as possible to make sure it is counted.
If you are too late to post your ballot paper, you can take it to your local polling station by 10pm on election day or to the Electoral Services office at County Hall.
What to do if your ballot paper if lost or stolen
Your ballot paper needs to clearly display your voting choice. If it has been damaged or if you lose it, you need to get another one.
You can either:
- contact us to ask for a replacement.
- collect a replacement from us at County Hall up to 5pm on election day.
You cannot vote at a polling station if you registered to vote by post or if your ballot paper was lost or damaged.
Voting by proxy
If you cannot vote in person you can ask someone to vote for you. This is called a proxy vote.
You can only apply for a proxy vote under certain circumstances, including:
- being away on polling day
- having a medical issue or disability
- not being able to vote in person because of work, education or military service
- registered as an overseas elector
Your proxy should be someone you trust to vote for you. You will need to tell them how you wish your vote to be casted.
Apply to vote by proxy for Senedd, Cardiff Council and Community Council Elections
The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm, 6 working days before election day.
What to do if you miss the deadline to apply to vote by proxy
If you missed the proxy vote deadline, you may be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote if you:
- cannot vote in person because of your employment or a disability and
- became aware of this reason after the proxy deadline
You can apply until 5pm on the day of the election.
You will need to download and print the form, complete it, sign it, and send it to us by email.
An appropriate person must sign the application form. For example, your employer or a doctor.
Voting from abroad or overseas
You can vote from abroad if:
- you will be abroad temporarily
- you are moving or live abroad
You will be abroad temporarily
If you will be abroad temporarily on election day, you can vote by post or proxy. You will need to make the arrangements in advance.
You will have to apply to vote by proxy if the election or referendum is less that 2 weeks away and you have not made arrangements yet.
If you chose to apply to vote by post, your postal ballot will be sent to the address you have chosen no earlier than 16 days before the election. You need to return the ballot before 10pm on polling day.
You are moving or live abroad
You can register as an overseas voter if you:
- are a British or eligible Irish citizen
- were registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years (or if you were too young to have registered when you left the UK)
You must register to vote in the normal way. You must renew your registration every year. You will get a reminder when it is time to renew.
If you do not renew your registration, you will be removed from the register and will have to register to vote again.
Voting if you are registered as an overseas voter
You can vote in UK Parliament elections.
You may be able to vote in referendums. Each referendum has different rules on who can vote in it.
If you are eligible, you can vote by post or proxy. You will have to make this choice when you register.
Contact us
If you have any questions or need any help, please contact us.
Tel: 029 2087 2087
Email: electoralservices@cardiff.gov.uk
Electoral Services
Room 263, County Hall
Atlantic Wharf
Cardiff
CF10 4UW