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Elections Act changes

There are changes to voting by post. These 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

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. 

If you have a long-term postal vote that you applied for before 31 October 2023, this will expire on 31 January 2026. The electoral services team at your local council will contact you before your postal vote expires.

Find out more about the changes to voting by post

Elections Act changes

There are changes to voting by post. The changes apply to UK Parliament general elections, by-elections and recall petitions.

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. 

If you have a long-term postal vote that you applied for before 31 October 2023, this will now expire on 31 January 2026. Your local electoral registration office will contact you before your postal vote expires.

The changes do not apply to Scottish Parliament or council elections in Scotland.

Find out more about the changes to voting by post

Elections Act changes

There are changes to voting by post. The changes apply to: 

  • UK Parliament general elections, by-elections and recall petitions in England, Scotland and Wales
  • Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales

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. 

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.

The changes do not apply to Senedd and local council elections in Wales. 

Find out more about the changes to voting by post

Elections Act changes

If you are a British or eligible Irish citizen living overseas who has previously lived in the UK or been registered to vote in the UK, you can register to vote in UK Parliamentary elections.

A number of changes to voting from overseas now apply: 

  • You can now register to vote if you previously lived in the UK but were not registered to vote.
  • You can register to vote in the UK no matter how long ago you left or were last registered to vote.  
  • Your overseas declaration is now valid for three years, lasting until 1 November in the third year after it takes effect (for example, if your declaration takes effect on 1 March 2024, it will expire on 1 November 2026). 
  • You can now register online (not available in Northern Ireland).

Find out more about voting if you live overseas

There are also changes to voting by post. You can apply online to vote by post and need to prove your identity when applying. You need to reapply for a postal vote every three years. 

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.

Find out more about the changes to voting by post

Voting by post

If you know that you won’t be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can vote by post.

You can apply for a postal vote if you’re away on holiday or because your work schedule means you can't get to polling station. You can also choose to vote by post simply because it would be more convenient for you.

You will be sent a postal vote ballot pack before the election. Find out more about how to vote by post.

Voting by post

If your last UK address was in England, Scotland or Wales

If you know you won’t be in the UK on polling day, you can vote by post.

You will be sent a postal vote ballot pack before the election. Find out more about how to vote by post.

If your last UK address was in Northern Ireland

You cannot vote by post if your last UK address was in Northern Ireland and you currently live overseas. You will need to vote vote by proxy or in person instead.

Find out more about voting by proxy

Find out more about voting in person

Voting by post

In Northern Ireland, you can vote by post if you can't get to the polling station on polling day because of:

  • illness
  • disability
  • holiday
  • work arrangements

In certain circumstances, you can also apply for an indefinite postal vote. You can do this at any time of year.

You will be a sent a postal vote ballot pack before the election. Find out more about how to vote by post.

If you’re outside the UK, you can’t apply to vote by post as postal votes in Northern Ireland can’t be sent outside the UK. Instead, you'll need to apply for a proxy vote.

Digital registration number (DRN)

If you registered to vote online, you'll need to provide your Digital Registration Number (DRN) on your application for a postal vote.

If you've forgotten your DRN you can request it online using the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland's Am I Registered service.

 

Help with the form 

If you need any support with your application, are unable to print the application form or need it in an accessible format, contact the electoral services team at your local council for help.

Help with the form 

If you need any support with your application, are unable to print the application form or need it in an accessible format, contact your local electoral registration office for help.

Postal vote application forms from parties and campaigners

Parties and campaigners may encourage voters to vote by post by providing postal vote application forms. This could be a paper form sent through the post, or a website with information.

Parties are not breaking any rules if they encourage voters to apply to vote by post, and there is information about this in our Code of Conduct for campaigners

Find out more about postal vote application forms from parties and campaigners.

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