Voting in Person
Before an election you will receive a polling card through the
post. On election day, you can (but don't have to) take the card
along to your local polling station, which will be detailed on the
polling card.
Staff will mark your name off a list (electoral register) and
give you a ballot paper(s) printed with a
security mark.
You then enter a booth, where you put an 'X' in the box next to
the person or party (some elections allow you to make several
choices, this will be shown on the ballot paper) you want to vote
for.
Fold the ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot
box.
Postal Voting
To vote by post you need to complete a Postal Voting
Form (PDF 10k).
This involves:
- Downloading the form
- Printing it out
- Filling it in
- Returning it to the Electoral Registration
Office, Harrogate Borough Council, FREEPOST NEA8951, Council
Offices, Crescent Gardens, Harrogate, HG1 2UG no later
than 5pm, 11 working days before an election
- The postal voting Ballot Paper will
then be sent to you between 7 and 8 working days before an
election, for you to complete and return
For more information on Postal Voting see
our Guide to
Postal Voting.
Vote by Proxy
Proxy voting is where another person goes to the polling station
to vote on your behalf.
Can I apply for a proxy vote?
To apply for a proxy vote you must be on the electoral
register. You can apply for a One-Off or Indefinite Proxy
vote.
When applying for a One-Off Proxy vote you have to provide a
reason, for example, you are away on holiday or you are in
hospital. If you want a proxy vote for an indefinite period,
you must have one of the following reasons.
- You are away from home due to your job
- You have to travel by air or sea to get to your polling
station
For indefinite proxy applications, except if you are
registered blind, someone has to certify on your application that
the reason is valid, for example, your employer or doctor.
You need to complete either a One-off Proxy Vote
Form (PDF 15k) which lasts for one election, or an Indefinite Proxy
Vote Form (PDF 15k), which lasts until further notice (or
some other longer time).
This involves:
- Downloading the One-off or Indefinite proxy
vote form.
- Printing it out
- Filling it in
- Returning it to the Electoral Registration
Office, Harrogate Borough Council, FREEPOST NEA8951, Council
Offices, Crescent Gardens, Harrogate, HG1 2UG no later than
5pm, 6 working days before an election
- A Proxy voting letter will be sent to your
proxy before the election with details of the Polling station they
need to attend.
Voting Problems
If you have any problems with voting, please contact us by:
E-mail: elect@harrogate.gov.uk
Phone: 01423 556008 or 556011 (9am to 5pm)
Electoral Registration Office
Council Offices
Crescent Gardens
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG1 2SG