Important electoral changes effective 31 October 2023
Starting 31 October 2023, new provisions will apply to all election types in England:
- electors can apply for postal and certain proxy votes using a new online form, available from 31 October 2023, on the GOV.UK postal votes page or the GOV.UK proxy votes page
- new identity verification requirements will be introduced for all absent vote applications, online or by paper, except for emergency proxies
- applications will undergo a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) check, similar to voter registration applications
- for applicants who can't be verified by DWP, an exceptions process and, if necessary, an attestation process will follow
- postal vote arrangements will be valid for a maximum of three years, after which a new application is required
- the number of electors for whom a person can act as a proxy will be limited to four, with no more than two being domestic electors
- electors with a permanent proxy vote must reapply for their proxy vote before 31 January 2024. Affected electors will be contacted in due course
