European Parliament Election 23 May 2019

Elections for the European Parliament take place every 5 years with the next election taking place in May 2019.

The UK Government held a referendum in 2016 to leave or remain in the European Union (EU).  The result was to leave and this was due to happen on 29 March 2019 but has now been postponed.

If the UK leaves the EU before Thursday 23 May then there will not be a European Parliament election in the UK.

If the UK is still in the EU on Thursday 23 May then the European Parliament Election will take place in the UK on this date.

This is of particular importance if you are from an EU country and are resident in the UK.  You can only vote once in this election, either your home country or in the UK.

Further information regarding voting in this election is provided in the sections below. 

More information about the election is available on The Electoral Commission website Your Vote Matters

European Union citizens resident in the UK

The UK government has stated its intention to leave the EU before May 23, the date of the European Parliament election.  However, if the UK is still part of the EU on this date then polls will take place in the UK.

You can only vote once, either in your home country or in the UK.

If you want to vote in your home country, you need to contact the electoral authorities in the EU country where you are a citizen.

If you want to vote in the UK the deadline to register to vote is Tuesday 7 May (midnight) if you are not already registered.

Citizens of the EU countries (other than the UK, Republic of Ireland, Malta and Cyprus) must also complete a declaration stating you are voting in the UK and not your home country.  The deadline to submit this form is also Tuesday 7 May (midnight). 

Both the application to register and the declaration form must be received by this date.

You can submit an application to register to vote at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote 
You can download a declaration form here.

Who can vote in the European Parliament election?

To vote in an EU Parliament election a person must be registered to vote and are:

• 18 years of age or over on election day
• a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland
• EU citizens who have completed a declaration to vote in the UK
• not be subject to any legal incapacity to vote

How to register to vote

The deadline to register for this election is Tuesday 7 May (midnight).
You can complete an application to register:
•    Online at www.gov.co.uk/register-to-vote
•    By phone - call 0141 287 4444 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
•    At the Service Desk, 45 John Street, Glasgow, G1 1JE (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)

You will need your name, address, date of birth, nationality and National Insurance number (where applicable) to complete an application form.

How to vote

There are three ways to vote:

• In person - at your designated polling station on the day of the election.
• By post - you can apply for a postal vote and a postal ballot pack will be issued prior to the day of the election.
• By proxy - you can apply to appoint someone you trust to attend your polling station and cast your vote on your behalf.  If your appointed proxy cannot attend your polling station they can apply for a postal vote (postal proxy)

If your application to register to vote is successful you will be able to vote in person at your designated polling station.

If you want to vote by post or proxy then a separate application must be completed containing your signature and date of birth.

Voting in person

A poll card will be issued to all qualifying electors prior to the day of the election telling them where their polling station is.

You don't need a poll card to be able to vote.  However, If you haven't received a poll card and are unsure if you are registered to vote please contact our office on 0141 287 4444.  

Or if you are unsure where your polling station is please contact us providing your name and address and we can provide the relevant details.

Voting by post

To qualify for a postal vote for this election you must be registered to vote or have completed an application to register by Tuesday 7 May (midnight).

The deadline to apply for a postal vote or change an existing postal vote is Wednesday 8 May (5pm).

Applications are available to  download here [144kb], at the Service Desk at 45 John Street or phone 0141 287 4444 and we will post a form to you.  

Forms can be returned by:    

• Email as an attachment to voters.roll@fs.glasgow.gov.uk
• By visiting the Service Desk, 45 John Street, Glasgow, G1 1JE
• Or by post to Glasgow City Council, Electoral Registration Officer, PO Box 15311, Glasgow, G4 7DL

Please note that Monday 6 May is a public holiday which will cause a delay in returning forms by post. Also if you are returning forms by post it will not reach us any earlier if you pay Royal Mail for an expedited service than first class postage due to the return address being a PO Box.  

Please ensure you allow plenty of time for posted forms to be delivered to meet the deadline or use an alternative method of return.

The issue of postal ballot packs are as follows:

• 1st issue of postal ballot packs for applications received by 12pm (noon) Friday 26 April is Thursday 9 May 2019
• 2nd issue of postal ballot packs for applications received by Wednesday 8 May (5pm) is Thursday 16 May 2019 

If these dates do not suit, you may want to apply to vote by proxy.

If you have lost or spoiled you postal ballot pack, replacements are only available from Friday 17 May.  You can contact our office on 0141 287 4444 for information regarding this.

Voting by proxy

A proxy vote is where you nominate someone you trust to vote on your behalf at your designated polling station.  
To obtain a proxy vote you must firstly be registered by Tuesday 7 May (midnight).

The deadline for new proxy applications is Wednesday 15 May (5pm).
The deadline to amend an existing proxy vote is Wednesday 8 May (5pm).

The person you appoint as your proxy must be a registered elector and they can only act as a proxy for 2 people other than close relatives.  They must also qualify to vote in this election.

Applications are available to  download here [435kb], at the Service Desk at 45 John Street or phone 0141 287 4444 and we will post a form to you.  

Forms can be returned by:    

• Email as an attachment to voters.roll@fs.glasgow.gov.uk
• By visiting the Service Desk, 45 John Street, Glasgow, G1 1JE
• Or by post to Glasgow City Council, Electoral Registration Officer, PO Box 15311, Glasgow, G4 7DL

Voting by postal proxy

A postal proxy vote is where you nominate someone to vote on your behalf and they apply to vote for you by post.  Applications are required by both the elector and the nominated proxy, who will then be issued a postal ballot pack.

The deadline to apply for a postal proxy is the same as a postal vote, Wednesday 8 May (5pm).

Emergency proxy applications

If after 5pm, Wednesday 15 May you find out you are unable to attend the polling station on Election Day you can apply for an emergency proxy.  These can be granted for disability, occupation, service or employment reasons up to 5pm on Election Day. See below application forms.

 Emergency proxy application for a disability [143kb]

 Emergency proxy application for occupation, service or employment [686kb]

These applications must be attested.

Forms can be returned by:    

• Email as an attachment to voters.roll@fs.glasgow.gov.uk
• By visiting the Service Desk, 45 John Street, Glasgow, G1 1JE
• Or by post to Glasgow City Council, Electoral Registration Officer, PO Box 15311, Glasgow, G4 7DL

Key Dates and Deadlines

Tuesday 7 May (midnight)	Deadline to register to vote
	Deadline for EU citizens to submit their declaration to vote in the UK
Wednesday 8 May (5pm)	Deadline to apply for a postal vote or a postal proxy Deadline to change an existing postal, proxy or postal proxy vote
Wednesday 15 May (5pm)	Deadline for new proxy applications
From 5pm Wednesday 15 May until 5pm Election day (23 May)	Emergency proxy applications
Thursday 9 May 2019	1st issue of postal ballot packs for applications received by 12pm (noon) Friday 26 April
Thursday 16 May 2019	2nd issue of postal ballot packs for applications received by Wednesday 8 May (5pm)
Friday 17 May 2019	First date for issuing replacement postal packs