Dementia Support Line
Can people with dementia vote?
People with dementia have the same right to vote as everyone else. Here, we explain why people with dementia can still vote, and the different ways you can vote if you choose to.
No one can be prevented from voting because they have dementia.
It is important we send this message far and wide to ensure that people with dementia have an equal voice in their communities up and down the country.
What does the law say about dementia and voting?
Everyone with dementia has a right to vote. The Mental Capacity Act provides a framework for making decisions on behalf of people who lack capacity to make a decision but this does not apply to voting. It is up to the individual to decide if they want to vote.
However, people with dementia may face additional barriers when the time comes to go to the polls.
For example, they may need to be reminded of the date or need support getting to the polling station.
A person with dementia can also have a companion to assist them at the polling station. The companion must be a close relative (spouse, civil partner, son or daughter). The Presiding Officer at the polling station will be able to provide more information.
Making your vote count
Register to vote
To take part in elections you must be registered to vote in person, by post or by proxy.
How to vote in person
If you have registered to vote in person, polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on the day of the election (also known as polling day).
Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure polling stations are accessible. If you need assistance, either contact your local council in advance, or speak to the staff at your polling station
From 2023, people in England will need to show photo ID before they vote at polling stations. This includes a passport, drivers licence or a travel card such as a bus pass with your photograph on it. A full list of acceptable documents can be found here.
If you don't have any photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
How to vote by post
If you have applied to vote by post, you will receive a postal ballot pack.
Once your postal voting pack arrives, complete your ballot paper and as soon as you are ready to return your vote, take it to the post box yourself.
If you can't post it yourself, you can can ask someone you trust to post it for you. You can also contact the elections team at your local council to ask if they can collect it from you.
The elections team at your local council will need to receive your postal vote by 10pm on polling day.
If you can't post your postal vote in time, you can take it to your polling station or to your local council on polling day.
How to vote by proxy
Anyone can appoint someone else to vote on their behalf. This is called voting by proxy. Your proxy is not allowed to make a decision about who to vote for – they just fulfil your wishes.
Although you don’t need mental capacity to vote, the Electoral Commission does require you to have mental capacity to appoint and maintain a proxy.
If you have already applied to vote by proxy, here is what your appointed proxy needs to do on polling day:
- The person you have appointed as your proxy will need to go to your polling station to cast your vote.
- They will then vote on your behalf, but in doing so they must vote the way you have instructed them too.
- They will receive a proxy poll card telling them where and when to cast your vote for you.
It is important to note that if you have made a Lasting Power of Attorney, your attorney cannot vote on your behalf. Only someone you have appointed to act as your proxy can cast your vote on your behalf, but in doing so must follow your wishes.
This post was last updated in March 2023.
Making your voice heard
By voting, you have the chance to make sure your voice is heard on issues you care about. Find out more about how we work with local governments.
Jason
saysHi, can someone with lasting power if attorney apply for a postal vote on behalf of the voter? Thanks.
Hi Jason, thanks for your comment, and you're right to point out that the guidance isn't completely clear on this.
There is this guidance from the Electoral Commission (https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdf_file/IER…) which, while stressing that someone who is an LPA attorney can’t actually vote on behalf of the person, does indicate that an attorney with an appropriate LPA can make the application to register for a vote on the person’s behalf (see paragraphs 1.13-1.18 headed “What someone with a power of attorney can and can’t do on behalf of an applicant“).
This appears to relate to the application to register to vote rather than an application for a postal vote though you might think that logically the same thought process would apply i.e. this is about administration rather than actually voting on the person’s behalf, but check with your electoral registration office. The person will need to sign the actual postal vote form and another form that comes with it and there may be a need to apply for a signature waiver if the person has difficulty signing. Discuss that with your electoral registration office too.
Hope this helps,
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Alzheimer's Society blog team
JANE COLLINS
saysThank you so much for putting posting this information . My husband was diagnosed in April of this year and is quite able to decide and really wants to vote. I did not know if he could but you have given me the answers.
L Randell
saysMum has lost mental capacity now with her Alzheimer’s, we have LPA, but would not now be capable of asking for proxy vote .She is registered for postal vote but gather from previous answers she will now lose her vote due to mental deterioration- again given it is this group that need action on Social Care provision seems a shame we cannot act on her behalf so she has a voice !
Christopher Shearwood
saysI am Attorney for my Mum under an LPA and she now has dementia. She’s pretty feeble physically, is bed/chair-bound and her signature is virtually non existent. She knows there’s an election coming up and knows what party she wants to vote for (having always voted same way). Happy for me to mark X for her. I had to complete the declaration on the household form a few months ago & sign it because she wouldn’t have understood it and I requested a postal form when the election was announced. Since she can’t sign it I asked for a proxy vote for her but her council have said that because it appears she wouldn’t understand the proxy form she they won’t send one to her. They accepted my completing the household form so why not with the proxy form? Seems that because she can’t complete that, through infirmity, she can’t vote.
Hi Christopher, thanks for your comment.
You are right to be confused. Although it is clear that anyone has the right to vote regardless of their mental capacity, some of the processes they have to go through can create anomalies.
If your mum could get to a polling station she would be able to vote (with some support if needed) so it’s understandable that you feel she shouldn’t be worse off because she can’t get there.
The Electoral Commission take the view that someone needs mental capacity to appoint a proxy, but they shouldn’t be making assumptions about capacity and should assume it unless there is a reason not to. If you feel that your mum knows what she is doing then you can argue that with your electoral registration office.
Alternatively you can ask if they can issue a postal vote for your mum, and if the problem is she can’t sign it you can ask them for a “signature waiver”. This can be applied for if someone is unable to sign or to provide a signature in a consistent way.
Hope this helps,
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Alzheimer's Society knowledge team
Paula
saysThere is a Waiver Form you can complete from your electoral office. You can the sign on your mums behalf. I'm doing it for my husband who can no longer do his signature. This allows me to sign his postal vote for him.
Stuart Jennings
saysIf the person you care for no longer speaks or has.capacity to appoint a proxy; doesn’t that mean they have lost their vote (even if they had created a LPA before the deterioration)
Seems unfair if they are excluded as social care changes often hits hits this group the hardest
Peter Danson
saysGreat advice on here, thank you. One aspect I am a little confused about is "The only criteria for the proxy is that the nominated person is registered to vote and is also allowed to vote in the same type of election." I have LPA for my mother who is in a home in a different part of the country. Can I cast her vote as her Proxy in local elections for the location she is in?
Thanks Peter – the information on this can be a bit unclear.
Regarding the part you've quoted, what this really means is that the proxy is someone who is able to vote themselves, i.e. on the electoral register and so 18 or over (16+ in Scotland). The LPA is not really an issue here as such, and it must be noted that voting by proxy is voting as your mother wishes you to in that specific election
Ideally, as proxy voter you will go to the polling station to make the proxy vote as your mother wishes. However, if this is not possible – as it sounds like it might not be – you can apply to have a postal proxy vote and so would be sent the voting forms in the post.
There is some useful information on the your vote matters website direct link to their proxy information below: https://www.yourvotematters.co.uk/how-do-i-vote/voting-by-proxy
Hope this is helpful,
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Alzheimer's Society blog team
Meggs Wason
saysHi,
I work in aged care and a family is telling me that it is the homes responsibility in taking their mother off the electoral role?
We have arranged postal votes for those that wish to vote.
Mrs Norman
saysHello I am the appointee for my mother. No power of attorney as did not have mental capacity to do so no estate etc Any mail for her is not being passed on to me at the home she is in. One of which was her voting form which I have been given some months later. They had filled the form in for her for postal vote to be set up.(but not sent in I think As I now have). As her appointee it should be myself who dealt with this and has her proxy? As she does not have the mental capacity to do so. As surely this could be giving a vote to candidate's that she would not of been her choice. And they are voting for who they want. Hence me as appointee should be the one to act on this for her. If at all! Advice would be very helpful. Thankyou.
Alzheimer's Society
saysHi Mrs Norman, thanks for your comment.
When it comes to voting only the person themselves can choose who they wish to vote for. Some people choose to nominate someone to act as their proxy – but this is to enable someone to fulfil their wishes and complete the voting form on their behalf and vote how they wish, the proxy MUST follow the persons wishes and vote how the person wants. A proxy under voting is someone that is appointed to only assist with voting and not anything else and the person should have asked for them to be their proxy. As an appointee for your mother you have the power to manage your mother’s benefits, and I’m afraid this is as far as the power stretches and so does not give you the right to vote on her behalf. If you wish to be your mother’s proxy your mother would need to complete the proxy application form.
A care home cannot vote on a residents behalf, instead many set up postal voting for their residents and will support the resident in voting. Legally no one can place a vote on another’s behalf, instead the system, including proxy voting is about supporting and assisting someone to be able to make their own vote, so I hope this reassures you to know that legally they shouldn’t be voting themselves using your mother’s vote. I would suggest that you speak with the care home about how they handle voting and what support they offer. From what you have said I gather your mother is set up for a postal vote, so maybe ask about being there to support her with completing it next time there is an election or a referendum, or checking with them about what they do to help her to vote.
Hope this is helpful, and do let us know if you have any more questions.
Justina Ezichukwu
saysIt's very vital that if the client is living in home, the relative must make enquiry on how the residents procedure of taking the client out to vote or is there any arrangements put in place for them to vote at home.
Spelile Barker
saysI look after elderly people living with Dementia and have documents stating they have no mental capacity and they receive voting paper work. Where do we stand with this when the 'voting by proxy' says the person living with dementia can be assisted to vote by proxy only if they have Mental Capacity to appoint a proxy.
Sue
saysDoes the above mean that someone who has Lasting Power of Attorney cannot be made a Proxy voter?
Alzheimer's Society
saysHi Sue, providing the person with dementia has capacity to appoint a proxy there is nothing to prevent them appointing someone who also happens to have Lasting Power of Attorney. The only criteria for the proxy is that the nominated person is registered to vote and is also allowed to vote in the same type of election.
Hope this clears it up, and if you need any other support or guidance please feel free to contact our National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 or email the team on [email protected]
Martin Corrick
saysAs a person with dementia, I know that my capacity to make rational decisions is reducing. I will have stop driving at some point, or risk harming myself or others. Similarly, there will be a time when we can't form an opinion about government, and just want to be left in peace. Everyone should have the chance to vote, but should not have it forced upon them.