Campaigners must never handle anyone else’s postal voting documents.
The term “postal voting document” covers a postal ballot paper, a declaration of identity, envelopes for returning postal voting documents, and an envelope containing a postal ballot pack.
It is a criminal offence for a campaigner to handle another voter’s postal voting documents. The offence applies to candidates and political parties, and those connected with, employed or engaged by candidates and parties – please see the terminology section. It carries a maximum penalty of up to two years in prison, a fine, or both; and prohibition from standing for electoral office and from voting for a period of 5 years.
There are two exemptions to this offence:
Campaigners are permitted to handle the postal voting documents of a close family member or someone they (or the organisation they work for) provide care for.
Campaigners are permitted to handle postal voting documents if that is included in the duties of a job or role they hold, and the handling is consistent with those duties. This includes postal workers and people who hold roles in organisations or communal buildings where handling post is part of the role (e.g. working in a care home).
If campaigners are asked for assistance in completing a ballot paper, they should always refer the voter to the Electoral Office’s helpline on 028 9044 6680.
Campaigners must never observe voters completing their ballot paper. If campaigners are with a voter when they complete their ballot paper, remember they must always complete it in secret.
It is a criminal offence to attempt to obtain, or to communicate, the number, official mark or other unique identifying mark from a voter’s postal ballot, or which candidate the voter has voted for. The maximum penalty for this offence is a 6-month prison sentence or a fine. (This offence applies to everyone whether they are a campaigner or not.)
If campaigners are asked to give advice, it is acceptable and often helpful to explain the voting process, but do not offer to help anyone to complete their ballot paper. Campaigners should always encourage voters themselves or a close family member to post the ballot pack. If campaigners are approached or asked for help by a voter who is unable to post their completed postal ballot pack, they should refer the voter to the Electoral Office. It is a criminal offence for a campaigner to handle another voter’s postal voting documents.
Campaigners should encourage voters to post their completed postal ballots as early as possible using Royal Mail.
Campaigners should encourage voters to post their completed postal ballots as early as possible using Royal Mail. Failure to do so could mean that the postal vote is not counted. In Northern Ireland postal votes cannot be accepted at polling stations. If an elector is worried that they do not have time to return their ballot paper by Royal Mail, they should contact the Electoral Office.