How to vote

This is an easy and convenient way of voting, if you are not able to get to the polling station.

For help to complete your postal vote, please watch: Postal Voting Video Guide video (YouTube).

How you apply for postal voting

• Visit: Vote by post (GOV.UK).

For those that do not have online access, a form can be sent to them. To do this, they will need to contact us.

Who can apply for a postal vote

You must be:

• aged 18 or over;
• and be on the Electoral Register.

Note: You do not need to give a reason or have the form countersigned, to get a postal vote.

Where you can have your postal vote sent to

Any address in the UK or overseas, such as:

• your home address;
• any other address that you give;
• where you will be staying on holiday.

Note: Please consider if there will be enough time to receive, complete and return your ballot paper, by election day. This is very important for addresses outside the UK. Ballot packs are sent out around two weeks before polling day. Overseas electors may therefore want to consider voting by proxy instead.

When you will receive your postal voting papers

They are usually despatched about two weeks before election day.

What you should do when you get your postal voting papers

• Read the instructions and:
  • mark the ballot paper for the candidate you wish to vote for;
  • also, complete the postal voting statement. (You must put your date of birth and sign this.)
• Do not let anyone else handle your postal vote.
• Make sure that they are not left where someone else can pick them up.

Make sure you send it back, so it arrives with us by the close of poll (10pm on election day). Important note: If it arrives late, your vote will not be counted.

How you use your postal vote

• Complete your ballot paper in secret, on your own.
  • Do not let anyone else vote for you.
  • Do not let anyone else see your vote.
  • Do not give the ballot paper to anyone.
  • Follow the instructions in the pack and return.

How you return your postal vote

Take it to:

• The post box yourself. If you cannot do that, give it to a person you know and trust to post it for you.
• Your local polling station on polling day and complete a declaration form. Otherwise it must be rejected.
• Electoral Services reception, Mulcture House, Mulcture Hall Road, Halifax, HX1 1SP. You will need to complete a declaration form, otherwise it must be rejected.

Do not:

• Leave postal votes at Halifax Town Hall reception or letter box! Any left behind must be rejected.
• Hand it over to anyone. Protect your vote!
• Leave it where someone else can pick it up.
• Handle the postal votes of more than five other electors plus your own.
• Give your postal vote to a political campaigner.

Remember that this is your vote - keep it to yourself.

Note: You should contact the West Yorkshire Police if anyone tries to:

• help you against your will;
• or force you to give them your postal vote.

If you move home

You must tell the Electoral Registration Officer right away or you may lose your right to vote.

How to cancel your postal vote

You need to give us a request in writing. This must include:

• Your full name and registered address;
• A statement that you want to cancel your postal vote;
• and your usual signature.

You can give us your request in three ways:

• By email to: electoral-services@calderdale.gov.uk. Please attach a clear photo or scan of your usual signature.
• By post to: Electoral Registration Officer, Calderdale Council, Town Hall, Halifax. HX1 1SP.
• In person at: Electoral Services, Mulcture House, Mulcture Hall Road, Halifax. HX1 1SP. Please note: There is no letter box.

When to cancel

Your request must arrive with us 11 working days before polling day (5pm).

For the elections on Thursday 2nd May 2024, the deadline is Wednesday 17th April 2024 (5pm).

Please note: Electors must show accepted photo ID when they vote in a polling station. For more about this, see: Voter identification.

If you want to know more

About voting, visit: Voting and elections (The Electoral Commission).

For any other queries, contact Electoral Services.

To appoint a proxy, you must give a reason for not going to the polling station yourself, like:

• you are disabled;
• or you will be out of the area on polling day.

Note: The deadline to apply is 5pm, 6 working days before a polling day.

The sooner you apply the better! This gives us more time to tell your proxy where to go to cast your vote. Please note: A proxy vote is valid for one election only.

Do you need to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf on a more permanent basis? If yes, you will need to contact us for correct form. You may need to have your form countersigned by your Doctor or other qualified person.

• To vote by proxy, you must apply, please visit: Vote by proxy (GOV.UK).
• For those that do not have online access, a form can be sent to them. To do this, they will need to contact us.

How to cancel your proxy vote

You need to give us a request in writing. This must include:

• Your full name and registered address;
• A statement that you want to cancel your postal vote;
• and your usual signature.

You can give us your request in three ways:

• By email to: electoral-services@calderdale.gov.uk. Please attach a clear photo or scan of your usual signature.
• By post to: Electoral Registration Officer, Calderdale Council, Town Hall, Halifax. HX1 1SP.
• In person at: Electoral Services, Mulcture House, Mulcture Hall Road, Halifax. HX1 1SP. Please note: There is no letter box.

When to cancel

Your request must arrive with us 6 working days before polling day (5pm).

For the elections on Thursday 2nd May 2024, the deadline is Wednesday 24th April 2024 (5pm).

Please note: Electors must show photographic ID when they vote in a polling station. For more about this, see: Voter identification.

If you are registered, around four weeks before an election you should get a poll card via the post. This will tell you where to vote and the hours your polling station will be open.

To find the location of your polling station, see: Where Do I Vote?

What happens at the polling station

• Give your name and address to the staff inside the polling station when you arrive.
• You will need to show accepted photo ID to confirm your identity.
• You will be given a ballot paper that has a list of the candidates or options you can vote for.

Filling in your ballot paper

Follow the instructions on the notices in the polling booth and on the top of the ballot paper to vote.

Staff are there to help, so please ask them about anything you are not sure of.

For information on protecting your vote, watch: Protect your vote (YouTube).

The voting process should be accessible to all voters. We offer a range of support for disabled voters to enable them to vote independently or with assistance.

To help do this, our polling stations have:

• Adapted level polling booth for wheelchair users.
• Large print versions of ballot papers to view.
• Pencil grips to attach to pens or pencils when marking the ballot paper.
• Magnifiers to use when reading guidance or marking the ballot paper.
• Tactile Voting Devices, to enable blind and partially sighted people to mark their ballot papers independently.
• Training for polling station staff based on how to assist people.
• Friendly and helpful polling station staff who will make reasonable adjustments where possible.

If you find an accessibility issue at a polling station, please let us know:

• Email: electoral-services@calderdale.gov.uk.
• Phone: (01422) 393103.

• Please see: Blind or partially sighted voters.

For an easy read guide, please download:

• Voting in the local elections in England on 4 May 2023 (The Electoral Commission).

Let polling station staff know what support you need to be able to exercise your right to vote.

For example:

• Someone to read out the candidates on the ballot paper.
• To be shown a large print ballot paper.
• To use the Tactile Voting Device.
• Someone to help mark the ballot paper with your decision. This can be either someone who has accompanied you or the polling station staff.
• To be assisted in moving around the polling station.
• You can also apply for postal or proxy voting.

Print out and fill in our Polling Station Passport to help you get the support you need:

• Polling Station Passport(PDF 47KB)

To make a request before polling day for additional support in your polling station:

• Email: electoral-services@calderdale.gov.uk.
• Phone: (01422) 393103.