How to vote by post
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Elections Act changes
There are changes to voting by post. You can apply online to vote by post and need to prove your identity when applying. You also need to reapply for a postal vote every three years. Find out more
The changes apply to:
- UK Parliament general elections, by-elections and recall petitions in England, Scotland and Wales
- Local elections in England
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales
If you have a long-term postal vote that you applied for before 31 October 2023, this will now expire on 31 January 2026. The electoral services team at your local council will contact you before your postal vote expires.
Elections Act changes
There are changes to voting by post. You can apply online to vote by post and need to prove your identity when applying. You also need to reapply for a postal vote every three years. Find out more
The changes apply to:
- UK Parliament elections, including by-elections and recall petitions
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections
If you have a long-term postal vote for UK Parliament elections that you applied for before 31 October 2023, this will now expire on 31 January 2026. The electoral services team at your local council will contact you before your postal vote expires.
Elections Act changes
There are changes to voting by post. You can apply online to vote by post and need to prove your identity when applying. You also need to reapply for a postal vote every three years. Find out more
The changes apply to UK Parliament elections, including by-elections and recall petitions.
If you have a long-term postal vote for UK Parliament elections that you applied for before 31 October 2023, this will now expire on 31 January 2026. The local electoral registration office will contact you before your postal vote expires.
Elections Act changes
There are changes to voting by post. You can apply online to vote by post and need to prove your identity when applying. You also need to reapply for a postal vote every three years. Find out more
The changes apply to UK Parliament general elections, by-elections and recall petitions in England, Scotland and Wales.
If you live overseas and have previously applied for a long-term postal vote, this will now expire at the same time as your Overseas Electors Declaration. You will then need to reapply for a postal vote.
When you will receive your postal vote pack
After the deadline to become a candidate has passed (approximately three weeks before polling day), ballot papers are produced and printed. Yours will then be sent to you, in your postal voting pack.
Once you receive your postal voting pack, make sure to keep it somewhere safe. Don't let anyone else handle it and avoid leaving it where someone else could pick it up.
When you will receive your postal vote pack
After the deadline to become a candidate has passed (usually around three weeks before polling day), ballot papers are produced and printed. Yours will then be sent to you, in your postal voting pack.
Once you receive your postal voting pack, make sure to keep it somewhere safe. Don't let anyone else handle it, and avoid leaving it where someone else could pick it up.
If you won’t be at your address to get your postal vote, you might want to think about a proxy vote instead.
How to vote by post
Step one
When you receive your postal voting pack, check the contents carefully. Inside your pack, there should be:
- instructions about how to cast your vote and how to return the postal vote
a postal voting statement - envelope A for your completed ballot paper
- return envelope B
- the ballot paper or papers for the elections taking place
Step two
Complete the postal voting statement carefully following the instructions.
Step three
Read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully. Some elections use different voting systems, so you need to make sure you fill in each ballot paper correctly.
Step four
Complete your ballot paper. Make sure you do it alone and in secret. Don't write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted.
Step five
Put your ballot paper in the smaller envelope marked A.
Step six
Put your postal voting statement and the ballot paper envelope into the return envelope marked B, and seal it. Make sure the return address is clear.
Step seven
Put your postal vote somewhere safe until you're ready to post it.
Returning your postal vote
Return your completed postal vote as soon as possible by taking it to a post box yourself.
If you can't post it yourself, you can either ask someone you know and trust to post it for you, or you can contact the elections team at your local council to ask if they can collect it from you.
Avoid asking a candidate or party worker to post it for you. This is against their code of conduct.
Your postal vote needs to be with the elections team at your local council by 10pm on polling day to be counted.
If you can't post your postal vote in time, you can take it your polling station or to your local council on polling day.
Returning your postal vote
As soon as you're ready to return your postal vote, take it to the post box yourself.
You should send it directly to the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.
If you can't post it yourself, you can either ask someone you know and trust to post it for you.
You can give your postal vote ballot paper in at the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland office in Belfast on polling day if you have not already posted it.
You cannot give your postal vote ballot paper in at a polling station on polling day.
How to cancel your postal vote
If you want to cancel your postal vote you should contact your local council to request this. You must do so before 5pm, 11 working days before the election you will be voting in.
If you have already returned your completed postal vote, you will not be able to cancel it for that election.
How to cancel your postal vote
If you want to cancel your postal vote you should contact your local council to request this. You must do so before 5pm, 11 working days before the election you will be voting in.
If you want to cancel your postal vote you should contact your local electoral registration office to request this. You must do so before 5pm, 11 working days before the election you will be voting in.
If you have already returned your completed postal vote, you will not be able to cancel it for that election.
How to cancel your postal vote
If you want to cancel your postal vote then you should contact the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland to request this.
If you have already returned your completed postal vote, then you will not be able to cancel it for that election.
Postal ballots papers
Postal ballot papers are viewed differently in electoral law to ballot papers in a polling station, so voters can take a photo of their own postal ballot paper and publicise it (including on social media) if they want to.
It is the personal choice of the voter whether they decide to take a photo of their postal ballot paper and share it. It is an offence to persuade or induce another person to share a photo of their postal ballot paper.
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