Vote by post
Anyone aged 18 or over who is on the electoral register can apply for a postal vote. You do not need to give a reason.
You can vote by post if you live in the UK or if you're voting when abroad.
Apply for a postal vote
You can apply for a postal vote for:
- a single election on a specific date
- a specific period
- the maximum period (up to three years)
Apply for a postal vote – GOV.UK
We must collect ‘personal identifiers’ from all postal voters. These identifiers – signature, National Insurance Number and date of birth – are used to check postal votes cast at election time, in an attempt to prevent and detect electoral fraud and to protect your vote.
See our privacy notice that guarantees we’ll protect your data.
Complete and return your postal vote
When voting by post, you should:
- complete your ballot paper in secret
- complete the postal voting statement
- put the ballot and statement in the envelopes provided
- seal the envelope yourself
Post your ballot back as quickly as possible to make sure it's counted.
If you're too late to post your ballot paper back, you can hand it in to your local Electoral Registration Office. You can also bring it to your local polling station by 10pm on polling day.
New rules have been introduced around handling postal votes:
- there will be a limit on the number of postal votes a person can hand in at a polling station or at the council offices
- you will not be allowed to hand in more than five postal ballot packs for other electors plus your own (6 in total)
- if a person hands in more than five postal ballot packs for other electors, all the postal votes (other than their own) will be rejected
- anyone handing in postal votes will need to complete a ‘return of postal voting documents’ form
- any postal votes which are left at any council building without the ‘return of postal voting documents’ form being completed will be rejected
Return of postal voting documents form
As outlined in the new rules above, you will be asked to fill in a 'return of postal voting documents' form when handing in any postal votes at a polling station or at the council offices.
Printed copies of this form will be available to fill in at polling stations and the council offices.
Remember that this is your vote - so keep it to yourself
Contact us if you spoil or lose your ballot paper. You can get a replacement up to 5pm on election day.
If anyone tries to help you against your will, or force you to give them your postal vote, you should contact the police.
If you have any other queries:
Telephone: 01582 546 000
Renewing your postal vote
You must renew your postal vote every three years.
Reapply for a postal vote – GOV.UK
The Elections Act 2022 introduced changes to the way people apply for a postal vote. These include:
- all postal vote applications must contain the applicant's name, address, date of birth, national insurance number and signature.
- the applicant's identity must be verified against records held by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). If this identity check fails, the applicant must provide evidence of their identity.
- postal votes are now valid for a maximum of 3 years
All electors who have had a postal voter before 30 January 2024 must reapply for their postal vote by 31 January 2026 to remain a postal voter.
We've contacted all affected postal voters to ask them to re-apply for their postal vote as soon as possible.
If you have an email address, you'll have been contacted first around this time. If we didn't hear from you in June 2025 (or we do not hold an email contact for you), a letter will be sent by post.