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Voting by proxy or by post?

19 replies

Adnerb95 · 05/05/2017 22:20

Has anyone ever had experience of voting by either/both of these methods? Just wondering which is going to be better for us as we are away on holiday on the date of the election.

We leave on the 30th May and get back after the results of the 6th June election. Any advice?

OP posts:

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Adnerb95 · 05/05/2017 22:35

Oops sorry 8th June - still away though so original query still applies.

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cdtaylornats · 06/05/2017 14:50

Do you know anyone you can trust voting for you?

Postal votes are the easiest.

Spam88 · 06/05/2017 14:53

I've been a proxy for someone else, would need to be someone you could trust obviously! Postal is probably best assuming you'd get it before you went away, I'm not sure what time scales they work to.

MrsHathaway · 06/05/2017 14:53

I have a postal vote by default now.

The paperwork arrives fairly close to the voting day but I should think at least a week in advance so you'd be fine. Could check with your local authority website re timing as I bet it's standard.

I prefer postal as I actually put a cross in a box and then post a thing through a slot.

scaryteacher · 06/05/2017 16:53

Postal proxy as we live abroad. My Mum has mine.

Saucery · 06/05/2017 16:55

I have a postal vote and it usually arrives at least a week before. Do check online as pp says.

Adnerb95 · 06/05/2017 18:51

Ok thanks for the feedback. Although I do have people I would absolutely trust as proxies, it sounds like postal is going to be the way to go. Might have to get a move on!

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Postagestamppat · 10/05/2017 10:29

I'll vote by proxy because they send out the ballot paper (for overseas voters) about 10 days before the election then it has to be returned by midnight of the election day. No way, a letter could get here and back again within 10 days! It has been known to take a month to a get a parcel here (Australia). I get my mum to do the proxy vote for me. She did it last time and there were no problems.

With my constituency, the deadline for applying for a postal vote is 23 May and 31th may for the proxy vote.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 10/05/2017 11:46

I have dh's proxy, because he works away from home a lot, and can't guarantee to be around on election days. It is a pretty simple process - though they do make you queue up separately to vote your own vote and the proxy (or, at least, they do in my polling station). That might bug me if it was busy and I had to queue for ages to vote the proxy, after I've made my vote, but luckily that has never been a problem.

It does also mean I have to cast a vote I don't agree with, as we have very different politics, but he trusts me to vote his proxy the way he wants, and I wouldn't break that trust.

MrsHathaway · 10/05/2017 11:51

I'll be proxy for DH this time (though as upthread I'm posting my own ) because he's going to be away and isn't confident that the postal would arrive before he leaves.

We don't vote the same as a rule, so it's going to be a challenge for me too. I think I'd have to refuse if he asked me to vote for UKIP but that isn't going to be an issue. I can grit my teeth for other parties I don't agree with.

ragged · 10/05/2017 19:12

We only postal vote... I have only ever postal voted. I find the idea of going into a ballot station kind of strange. Postal voting is pretty easy.

ChippyMinton · 10/05/2017 19:18

Ring your council and check when the postal votes are going to be posted out. If time is tight, a proxy will be better, but if you have time to return your postal vote do that because it's easy.

FWIW in my polling station I issue the proxy, then let the voter come back to head of the queue for their own vote.

LockedOutOfMN · 10/05/2017 19:19

Proxy. My postal vote always arrives 2 or 3 weeks after the election or never. Same for my UK friends. We live in Spain.

autumnboys · 10/05/2017 19:23

DH has a postal vote, but sometimes forgets to post it. If I take it with me, I'm able to put it in the ballot box. Not sure if that helps - similar to a proxy, but you fill it in yourself.

Adnerb95 · 10/05/2017 21:48

Thanks all - I now need to get my act together and fill in the form pronto.

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specialsubject · 13/05/2017 09:48

I missed one and got my partner to be proxy for me - we voted differently. He still cast my vote as instructed and I would have done the same for him.

If you don't have this level of trust you have bigger issues! That said, you may not want to reveal your choice to a proxy in which case it has to be postal. Trouble is that means an early decision, no manifestos yet.

Heirhelp · 13/05/2017 09:50

Our postal polling cards have arrived and say that we should receive our postal votes in the 22nd May.

TotallyConkers · 13/05/2017 09:53

Postal vote but check when it is due to arrive. Other than my DH I would not trust anyone else to vote on my behalf.

MrsHathaway · 13/05/2017 09:54

Yes, my polling card says "on or around 23 May" for the postal vote arriving.

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