How to vote by post
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The deadline to apply for a postal vote in elections taking place on 7 May has now passed.
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 applying for 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.
Do not ask a candidate or party worker to post it for you. It is an offence for campaigners, candidates and party workers to handle the postal votes of anyone who is not a close relative or someone they provide care for.
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. You may also be able to hand it in to your local council office, but you should contact your Electoral Registration Officer to check if this is possible.
When handing in postal votes, you will need to complete a form. You will need to include your name and address, how many postal votes you are handing in and why you are handing in those postal votes.
Campaigners can only hand in their own postal vote, and postal votes for up to five other people that are either close relatives, or someone they provide regular care for.
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. At UK Parliament elections, it is an offence for campaigners, candidates and party workers to handle the postal votes of anyone who is not a close relative or someone they provide care for.
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. You may also be able to hand it in to your local council office, but you should contact the elections team at your local council to check if this is possible.
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. At UK Parliament and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, it is an offence for campaigners, candidates and party workers to handle the postal votes of anyone who is not a close relative or someone they provide care for.
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. You may also be able to hand it in to your local council office, but you should contact your Electoral Registration Officer to check if this is possible.
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. Do not ask a campaigner, candidate or party worker to post it for you as it is an offence for campaigners to handle another person’s postal vote.
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.
Handing in postal votes at a polling station
Handing in postal votes at a polling station
UK Parliament elections
You can only hand in your own postal vote, and the postal votes of up to five other people, at a polling station or to your local council. When handing in postal votes, you will need to complete a form. You will need to include your name and address, how many postal votes you are handing in and why you are handing in those postal votes.
Campaigners can only hand in their own postal vote, and postal votes for up to five other people that are either close relatives, or someone they provide regular care for.
Handing in postal votes at a polling station
Handing in postal votes at a polling station
UK Parliament and Police and Crime Commissioner elections
You can only hand in your own postal vote, and the postal votes of up to five other people, at a polling station or to your local council. When handing in postal votes, you will need to complete a form. You will need to include your name and address, how many postal votes you are handing in and why you are handing in those postal votes.
Campaigners can only hand in their own postal vote, and postal votes for up to five other people that are either close relatives, or someone they provide regular care for.
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
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.