Postal voting

Any registered elector can choose to vote by post instead of at their usual polling station.

Can I apply for a postal vote?

Anyone can vote by post. If you choose to vote by post, your ballot papers will be sent to you by First-Class post for you to complete and return.  To apply to vote by post, please download and fill out this form and return to us.

If you wish to vote by post, you don't have to wait for an election to be called. You can apply at any time and doing so immediately will prevent you from missing any deadlines.

Posting your vote

Postal ballot papers cannot be sent to electors until around a week before polling day. You should consider whether there is enough time to for you to receive and return the ballot paper by 10pm on Election Day. If not you should consider choosing a proxy instead.

Voting by post or proxy for a longer period

A vote by post is available to anyone and you can ask for an automatic postal vote for an indefinite period. You may find it more practical to vote by proxy, where you appoint someone else to vote on your behalf.

More information ...

Under new legislation introduced on 1 January 2007, anyone choosing to vote by post must provide a signature specimen and their date of birth.

These Personal Identifiers are securely stored. Each time you vote by post, your signature and date of birth provided on the postal voting statement will be checked against these identifiers to ensure your postal vote remains secure.

If you are unable to sign in a consistent or distinctive way because of any disability then they may be granted an exemption from doing so. This is called a waiver.

Find out more at About My Vote.

Page owner: Teresa Maughan. Last updated: 22/08/2011 16:41