Representation of the People Act 1983

22 Voting as proxy at parliamentary elections

(1) A person voting as proxy for an elector at a parliamentary election shall do so in person at the elector's polling station, except in so far as this section entitles the proxy to vote by post.

(2) A proxy may exercise the right to vote as such at a parliamentary election by post if—

(a) he applies so to do and provides an address in the United Kingdom to which a ballot paper is to be sent for the purpose ; and

(b) either—

(i) he is entitled to vote by post as an absent voter at the election ; or

(ii) that address is not in the same area as the elector's qualifying address.

(3) For the purposes of this section, an address shall not be treated as in the same area as a qualifying address unless—

(a) both addresses are in the same electoral division of Greater London, or

(b) both addresses are in the same electoral division of a county in England and, if either address is in a parish, both are in the same parish, or

(c) both addresses are in the same electoral division of a county in Wales and in the same community, or

(d) both addresses are in the same electoral division in Scotland, or

(e) both addresses are in the same ward in Northern Ireland.

(4) A proxy is not entitled to exercise the right to vote as such in person at any election for which his application to exercise that right by post is allowed.

(5) Any such application shall be made to the registration officer and shall be allowed by him in any case where he is satisfied—

(a) that the elector is or will be registered as such for elections to which the application relates; and

(b) that there is in force an appointment of the applicant as his proxy to vote in respect of that registration ; and

(c) that the conditions entitling the applicant to vote by post are fulfilled.

(6) Where any such application is based on the applicant's right to vote by post as an elector, then—

(a) if that right extends only to a particular election, the application shall also extend only to that election;

(b) in any other case, the application shall be for an indefinite period but, where it is allowed, the applicant shall cease to be entitled to vote by post in pursuance of that right if—

(i) he ceases to have the right to vote by post as an elector, or has that right only by virtue of a new application; or

(ii) he ceases to be proxy for the elector, or is so only by virtue of a new appointment.

(7) Where any such application is based on the situation of the address to which the ballot paper is to be sent, it shall be for an indefinite period but, if it is allowed, the applicant shall cease to be entitled to vote by post in pursuance of it if—

(a) he applies for a ballot paper not to be sent to that address; or

(b) he ceases to be proxy for the elector, or is so only by virtue of a new appointment

(8) The registration officer shall keep a record of the persons whose applications to vote by post as proxy are for the time being allowed and of the addresses provided by them as the addresses to which their ballot papers are to be sent.