Register to vote
In order to vote in any election you need to be on the electoral register.
If you're unable to register online you can call us on 0115 901 3917 or visit us at the Civic Centre.
Am I eligible to vote?
You're eligible to vote if:
- You're 18 or over, or turn 18 during the registration period
- You're a citizen of Britain, the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland
- You're a citizen of the European Union (only eligible to vote at Local Elections)
- You're living at an an address in Gedling borough for at least six months of the year
How can I vote?
In the UK there are three different ways you can vote:
1. at a polling station:
You can vote at your polling station between 7am and 10pm on polling day. As of May 2023, you now need to show photo ID before you can vote. Polling staff will check your details and your photo ID and give you your ballot paper(s). Once completed, your ballot papers should be placed in the ballot box. You can find out where your current polling station is here, however your poll card will confirm the polling station details.
2. by post:
You can apply for a postal vote at any time and for any reason and can do this for a particular election, until a specified time or for the maximum period. The deadline for applications is 5pm on the 11th working day prior to an election. Postal votes are normally sent approximately 10 days before the election. We can send postal votes overseas, but please remember that completed postal votes must be received by 10pm on election day; any later than this and your vote will not be counted. If you wish to cancel your postal vote, you must do this in writing (email or letter) before the deadline above.
To apply for a postal vote, you need to complete the postal voter application process, which as of 31 October requires applicants to provide a national insurance number to verify their identity. The easiest way to do this is via www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.
If you can’t complete the online application process, please complete and return the form on the Electoral Commission website. You can also come and collect and/or complete application forms at our office, address shown below.
Please send completed application forms to:
Hard copy: Electoral Services, Gedling Borough Council, Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 6LU
Scanned copy: via email to elections@gedling.gov.uk
Changes to handing in postal votes at a polling station or in the Council offices
If you can't post your postal voting pack into a Royal Mail post box, you can take it to your polling station on polling day or to the council offices in the run up to polling day. You will be provided with a form which you must complete for the postal vote(s) you are handing in to be accepted at either a polling station or council offices. If you do not complete this, your postal packs will be rejected. As such, please do not put them into the councils night safe.
For the upcoming elections, you will be only able to hand in your own postal vote, and the postal votes of up to five other people.
Campaigners can only hand in their own postal vote, and postal votes for up to five other people that are either close relatives, or someone they provide regular care for.
Further information can be found on the Electoral Commission Website.
3. by proxy
If you know that you won’t be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote for you. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is often referred to as your proxy.
If you nominate a proxy, the person you choose to vote on your behalf will need to show their own photo ID to cast your vote. They will not need to show your ID.
The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote or can apply to vote for you by post. From 31 October, people will only be able to act as a proxy for up to two ordinary voters and two overseas voters – these are the latest changes coming into force from the Elections Act 2022.
There are three types of proxy vote, these are for a particular election, for a long term due to things such as disability, work or being in the armed forces or as an emergency proxy. The deadline for applications for a new proxy vote is 5pm, 6 working days prior to an election. When changing or cancelling an existing proxy, postal or postal proxy vote, you must return your proxy vote application form by 5pm, 11 working days before the poll. Emergency applications can be made up to 5pm on polling day. For further information, please visit the Electoral Commission website.
To apply for a proxy vote, you need to complete an application, depending on which type you require. As of 31 October, some proxy vote applications require applicants to provide a national insurance number to verify their identity. The easiest way to do this is via www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.
If you can’t complete the online application process, please complete and return the form on the Electoral Commission website. You can also come and collect and/or complete application forms at our office, address shown below.
Please send completed application forms to:
Hard copy: Electoral Services, Gedling Borough Council, Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 6LU
Scanned copy: via email to elections@gedling.gov.uk