Register to vote!

Local elections take place in Brighton & Hove on Thursday 2 May 2019. Make sure you prepare ahead so you are registered to vote, know what you need to do on the day and to apply for any postal or proxy votes if you are unable to get to your polling station.

Who can vote in the local elections?

Eligibility for voting in local elections is different to a UK Parliamentary election. For example, European Union citizens who live in the city and students who are also registered at another address can vote.

You can vote in the Brighton & Hove City Council elections if you are:

• registered to vote 
• a resident in Brighton & Hove
• 18 or over on 2 May (although you can register from 16)
• a UK, Irish, Commonwealth or European Union citizen

Double check on the Your Vote Matters website if you are not sure.  

Voting in the local elections

If you’re already registered to vote, keep an eye out for your poll cards arriving in the post. They’ll have your ward information and the location of your polling station printed on them. 

On Thursday 2 May you will need to go to your assigned polling station between 7am and 10pm. When you arrive, staff will take your name and address and cross off your name on their checklist. You will then be able to vote. 

Plan ahead if you won’t be able to get to your polling station

If you know that you will be unable to get to your polling station on 2 May, you will need to apply for a postal or proxy vote in advance. Find out more about postal and proxy votes.

Postal vote

To apply to vote by post you need to download, complete, print and sign a form, then and send it back to our Elections team by Monday 15 April. Postal votes will begin to be sent out from 11 April. 

Proxy vote

If you aren’t able to cast your vote in person, you can apply for a proxy vote to have someone you trust cast your vote for you. You will need to complete a form and return it to our Elections team by Wednesday 24 April.

Key deadlines

• Thursday 4 April (by 4pm): List of candidates published
• Friday 12 April: Last day to register to vote
• Monday 15 April (5pm): Last day for us to receive your postal vote application
• Wednesday 24 April (5pm): Last day for us to receive your proxy vote application
• Thursday 2 May: Election day

Find out more

For more information about the local election, how to register to vote, applying for a postal or proxy vote, please go to the elections pages on our website.