Running electoral registration - England

Removing postal voters from the absent voting records and lists when they have expired

If you have not received a new application in response to a postal vote re-application notification by the date the arrangement ceases, you must remove the entry from the absent voting records and relevant list (postal voters list or proxy postal voters list) as soon as practicable.1 You must also remove that person’s entry from the relevant record of granted absent vote applications.

You must, however, keep the elector’s signature and date of birth previously provided on the record of personal identifiers for a period of twelve months from the date on which the elector is removed from the record of granted applications.2  

You must notify the elector in writing that their postal vote has been removed.3   

The notice must include information to:4  

  • explain that the person’s postal vote has been removed because a new application has not been received, and if they wish to vote they can now only do so at a polling station 
  • inform them of their polling station 
  • remind them that they may make a new postal vote application or apply to vote by proxy

Where a postal proxy is removed from the record and list of postal proxies, you may also write to the elector who appointed the proxy and explain that while the proxy appointment remains in place (provided the elector has not also lost their entitlement to vote by proxy), their proxy must now attend the elector’s polling station to vote on their behalf or make a new application for a postal vote.5   

Last updated: 12 December 2023