Anyone included in the Register of Electors may apply for a postal vote. If you know that you will not be able to vote in person, you should apply for a postal vote (opens in a new window) as soon as an election is announced or as soon as you become aware that you will be out of the country on polling day.  Postal votes can be sent to an address outside the UK - for example if you are going on holiday - but please remember that it will take time to get there and for you to return it in time for the vote to be counted.

Postal ballot papers are normally sent out a week or two before polling day (depending on when you send in your postal voting application), so if you will not be at home around that time you should consider appointing a proxy to vote on your behalf.