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Editor's factfile: Thursday April 14
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| Craig Hoy: Giving it to you straight |
How do I vote if I'm not able to make it to the polling station on May 5?
You can either vote by post or nominate someone to vote on your behalf - a process known as proxy voting.
Postal voting is easy and increasingly common. But it is also open to fraud as the Electoral Commission and a high court judge have warned following the Birmingham scandal during last year's local and European elections.
In England, Scotland and Wales, you can choose to vote by post if you cannot or do not wish to attend your polling station.
You do not have to give any reason for asking for a postal vote - it's entirely your choice.
Northern Ireland has tougher rules, which require you to prove who you are if you want to vote by post.
If you would you like to apply for a postal vote, you can fill out the form from your local authority on the Electoral Commission's website.
If, instead, you want to ask someone else, perhaps a neighbour, friend or relative, you can ask for a proxy voting form from your local returning officer.
You can apply to vote by proxy for a particular election, for a set period of time or for all future elections.
In England, Scotland and Wales, the deadline for applying to vote by proxy is April 26. The deadline for changing an existing proxy vote arrangements is April 19.
In Northern Ireland, where the rules are tighter because of past problems with voter impersonation, the deadline for applications is today should you wish a proxy vote.
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