Voting

Why should I Vote?

You must be registered to vote to ensure your political opinion counts. You can choose to vote at a polling station, by post, or you can appoint someone to vote on your behalf which is known as a proxy vote.

Voting in person at a polling station

If you choose to vote in person, you will receive a polling card shortly before an election. The poll card will include details of where your polling station is situated and the date of the election. 

The polling station will be open from 7am until 10pm on polling day. You will be asked to confirm your name and address when attending the polling station to vote, or you can show the staff your poll card if you have it with you.

You will be given a ballot paper which you should mark in one of the polling booths provided to ensure your vote is secret. Once you have voted, fold the ballot paper in half, put it in the ballot box, and then leave the polling station.

This website provides a facility to enable you to find your polling station. Periodically we are required to review polling districts and places in the Rotherham MBC area.  The results of the most recent full Polling District Review are now available.

Vote by post

Any elector can choose to vote by post instead of voting in person at a polling station.  In order to vote by post you are required to complete a postal vote application form, which is available from the Electoral Commission's website about my vote.

Postal voters will receive a postal ballot pack approximately two weeks before an election. The postal ballot pack contains a postal voting statement, a ballot paper, and return envelopes. You should mark your ballot paper and seal it in the ballot paper envelope. You should give your date of birth and signature on the postal voting statement, and then put the completed statement and sealed ballot paper envelope in the postage paid return envelope. The completed postal voting statement will be verified with against the date of birth and signature that you provided when applying to vote by post.

You must ensure that you return your postal vote so it is received by polling day, or your vote may not be counted.

Appoint someone to vote on your behalf - proxy vote

If you are a registered elector and unable to attend your polling station on polling day you can appoint someone to vote on your behalf. This could be because you will be on holiday, or will be working away on polling day.

The electors that fall into the categories listed below can apply for someone to vote on their behalf for long term periods. Certain criteria has to be satisfied on the application form and this will need to be attested by the relevant person as detailed on the form:

• Register Service Voter
• Registered Overseas Elector
• Register elector who has a physical disability
• Register elector who is away from home due to their employment or education commitments 

If you only require the appointment to last for one election only you will need to fill in the section on the reverse of the form that asks for a reason why you require the appointment for one election only. No attestation will be needed.

Please visit the Electoral Commission's website about my vote for an application to vote by proxy.

Last update: 06/03/2012