How to Vote
You must be registered with the Electoral Register to vote in local and national elections, including Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
Who can vote?
Young people aged 14 and 15 can register to vote in Wales, and 16 and 17 year olds can vote in Welsh Parliament (Senedd) elections and Local Government elections.
You need to be 18 to vote in UK elections, although legislation is being brought in to allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote in the next general election, which must be called by August 2029.
Students with a home address and a term-time address, can register to vote at both addresses. At local council elections you can vote in both places if they are in different boroughs. In a general election you must choose to vote in one place.
British voters living overseas can vote in UK elections regardless of how long they have lived abroad.
Registering to vote
If you haven’t registered before, you can register to vote here.
Every summer, the council sends details of who is registered to vote at properties as part of the annual canvass.
You can check if you are registered, or update your information, for example if you have recently moved.
Alternatively you can check or update your details by contacting voting@torfaen.gov.uk
Voting at a polling station
About four weeks before an election you will receive your polling card in the post. On this card you will find details of when, where and how to vote.
It is easier if you take this with you when you vote although you can vote without it.
You will need to show photo ID to vote in UK elections, including Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
If you don't have accepted photo ID, you can apply for a free “photo ID to vote”
All polling stations are accessible and include tactile devices to help voters with sight problems.
Voting by post
The process for applying for a postal vote in Wales depends on the type of election:
You need to complete a new postal vote application if you have moved house or changed your name.
For UK Parliament and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, a postal vote can last no more than three years before you need to reapply.
For Senedd elections and local government elections, you can have a postal vote for an indefinite period, but our elections team will contact you to refresh your signature after five years.
Please note, if you are applying to vote by post in a forthcoming election, you will need to do so before a deadline date.
You can hand completed postal votes into polling stations on polling day.
If you lose your postal vote, you can request a replacement before 10am on polling day but you will not be able to vote at a polling station.
Voting by proxy
Proxy voting means having someone to vote on your behalf. This can either be in person at your usual Polling Station or by post.
Anyone can be your proxy as long as they are eligible to vote in UK elections and they are willing to vote on your behalf.
To apply to vote by proxy you need to complete a form and return it to the Council. You can apply to vote by proxy here or a form can be obtained by contacting the Elections Section, or in person at the Civic Centre in Pontypool or the Customer Care Centre in Cwmbran Library.
If your proxy cannot get to the polling station, they can apply to vote for you by post. They can apply to do this up to 11 days before election day. Your electoral registration office can give you more details about this. Your proxy will be sent a proxy poll card, telling them where and when to vote.
Please note, proxy voters can only act on behalf of a up to two domestic electors and two overseas voters.
For more information about voting, visit the Electoral Commission website
Last Modified: 12/02/2026
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