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Voting by post

If you’re on the electoral register, you can apply to vote by post instead of voting at the polling station.

You don’t need to give a reason; you can simply choose this method if it’s more convenient for you.

You can apply for a postal vote for one election, eg if you’re going on holiday or you can apply for a specific period of time. The maximum you can apply for is three years. 

Applying for a postal vote

You can apply online to vote by post. You'll need to prove your identity when applying by providing your date of birth and National Insurance number. You'll also need to be able to upload a clear image of your signature.

If you can't apply online, you can still contact us to ask for a postal vote application form. You can also download one from the GOV.UK website.

You must return your application to us by 5pm, 11 working days before the date of an election. 

If you’re not able to sign, or can’t provide a consistent signature, you may be eligible to apply for a postal vote waiver. This means that you don’t have to provide your signature, just your date of birth. If you'd like to apply for a waiver, please phone us on 01226 773070.

When we receive your application for a postal vote

We’ll post your ballot papers to your home address about 10 days before an election. If you want them sending to a different address you must tell us in your application form and give a reason why. This can be an address inside or outside the UK.

If you don’t receive your ballot papers or they’re spoiled on arrival, you can apply for replacements. You must do this by 5pm on election day. We’ll need to see photo ID to reissue a postal vote. 

If your ballot papers are spoiled, please send the pack back to us.

For more information, call us on 01226 773070.

Casting your vote

When you get your ballot pack, it'll contain:

  • your ballot paper
  • your postal voting statement

These will be in a one-piece document attached to envelope A. You'll also have a return envelope marked 'envelope B'.

You'll need to complete the postal voting statement in black ink. 

Please be careful not to mix up your documents with anyone else’s in your household.

To cast your vote follow these steps:

  • Enter your date of birth and signature in the boxes provided.
  • Complete your ballot paper in secret. Vote for one candidate only by marking a cross (X) in the box next to your choice. Don’t mark the ballot paper in any other way or your vote may not count.
  • Fold your ballot paper, place it in envelope A and seal the envelope.
  • Put your completed postal voting statement and envelope A (please do not detach) into return envelope B.
  • Seal the envelope and post it back to us. If it’s posted in the UK, this will be free.

Postal votes must be received by the close of poll (10pm) on the day of the election, or they’ll not be counted. 

If you haven’t got time to post your vote back, you can drop it off in the ballot box provided at the Town Hall during office hours. Alternatively, you can deliver it to any polling station in your electoral area on the day of the election.

Please note that if you hand deliver a completed postal vote, you'll need to complete a statutory form. Our staff can help you to complete this. If you're hand delivering postal votes for others, the maximum amount you can hand in at a polling station or at the Town Hall is six postal votes. This number includes your own vote.

If you move house

If you move house or change your name, you’ll need to complete a new application form. Please contact us and we can send one out to you.