How do I vote?

Near the election date you will be sent an official poll card telling you when Election Day is and where your local polling station is. You can vote there between 7am and 10pm on Election Day. Our staff will be at every polling station to help you with any questions or if you have a disability.

You can choose to vote by post at an election, but you must have completed and returned an application form to Electoral Services by the deadline given on your poll card, the deadline is always the 12th working day before an election. 

Postal voting

Instead of going to your polling station you can apply to have a postal vote. Postal Votes are available to everyone and can be sent to any address, even abroad, but do bear in mind that your ballot paper must be returned to us before close of poll on the day of election.

Download postal voting application form on the Electoral Commission website

Proxy voting

If you are unable to go to the polling station on polling day you can apply to have a proxy vote: this is where you appoint somebody to vote for you. That person then goes along to your polling station and casts your vote.

The closing date for the receipt of your application form is six days before the day of election (excluding weekends and bank holidays). In certain circumstances, where you have an emergency that means you cannot go to the polling station in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy up to 5pm on the day of the poll. 

Download proxy vote application forms on the Electoral Commission website

Postal voting by proxy

If your proxy is going to be away from your home on election day, they you can apply for their proxy ballot paper to be posted to them. 

The closing date for the receipt of your application form is six days before the day of election (excluding weekends and bank holidays). Request a postal voting by proxy application form by calling us on 01267 228 889.

Returning your application forms

You must return your postal / proxy application forms to the following address:

Electoral Services Unit, Block 4, Parc Myrddin, Richmond Terrace, Carmarthen, SA31 1HQ

Accessible Voting

Voting and elections should be easily accessible to everyone who has the legal right to vote, whether they have a disability or not. We know that some people will need more support than others to use their vote – and our elections team will be happy to help. For voters with disabilities the Every Vote Counts website is an excellent resource with clear information about the election process, registering to vote and voting in the polling stations.

At the polling station on election day there will be a low-level disabled polling booth suitable for use with a wheelchair. Large print notices of ballot papers will be available to view in every polling station, these can be used as reference, but you must still cast your vote on a standard print ballot paper as required by law. An aid known as a tactile device will be available to enable blind or visually impaired voters to vote without assistance. Please ask staff at the polling station about this device. You will also be able to ask the Presiding Officer (the person in charge of the polling station) to assist you, they are legally bound by the Requirement for Secrecy so your vote will remain secret.

Local elections are taking place on May 5 - if you, or someone you know, needs help to register or to vote, please contact the elections team on 01267 228889.