There are different application processes depending on whether your proxy vote is for parental leave or for serious long-term illness or injury. Please follow the appropriate steps below.
Applying for a parental proxy vote
To apply for a parental proxy vote, take the following steps:
Steps
- Establish with any Member who is eligible to vote in divisions that they are willing be your proxy and to cast your vote as and when instructed by you.
- Email pbohoc@parliament.uk providing the following:
- A statement that you are eligible to apply for the parental leave proxy scheme.
- The name of the Member who has agreed to be your proxy.
- The date when you want your proxy voting period to start and end. You can have a proxy vote for up to one month before the due date or adoption date and up to six months after the due date or adoption date.
- You must submit your application before the rise of the House on the sitting day before the date when you want the proxy to come into force, or by 3pm on the working day before, if the House is not sitting.
- The Speaker will issue a certificate, which will appear in the Votes and Proceedings no later than the sitting day on which it takes effect. The certificate will show your name, the duration of the arrangement and the name of the Member you have chosen as your proxy.
Applying for a serious long-term illness or injury proxy vote
To apply for a serious long-term illness or injury proxy vote, take the following steps:
Steps
- Establish with any Member who is eligible to vote in divisions that they are willing to be your proxy and to cast your vote as and when instructed by you.
- Email phws@parliament.uk (cc speakersoffice@parliament.uk for information only) with the subject line “Proxy vote application” providing the following:
- A statement from a hospital consultant that you are, for reasons of serious long-term illness or injury, unable to attend divisions or elections in the House in person for a period of not less than one month. A proxy vote can only be initially granted for a period of seven months and the medical statement must cover the period being requested;
- The name of the Member who has agreed to be your proxy;
- The dates you wish your proxy voting arrangement to begin and end (which must be within the period specified in the hospital consultant’s statement).
- Members are generally expected not to be present on the Parliamentary Estate whilst holding a proxy vote. If, for exceptional reasons, you are intending to be present on the Estate, you should say so (and, if possible, the reasons for doing so) in your application email.
- Your application will be assessed by the Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service, who will complete a proforma for the Speaker about your eligibility for a proxy vote. They may also provide the Speaker with advice about whether, for exceptional reasons, you should hold the proxy vote whilst being present on the Parliamentary Estate.
- The Speaker will then make a decision about whether to grant the proxy voting arrangement. If he does, he will issue a certificate, which will appear in the Votes and Proceedings no later than the sitting day on which the arrangement takes effect. The certificate will show your name, the duration of the arrangement and the name of the Member you have chosen as your proxy.