Voting by post

This guide is about how you can vote in an election by post.

It tells you:

1. What you need to do before an election
    
2. How to send your vote by post in an election

If you want to apply to vote by post, you can contact your local elections team for a paper form. 

Fill in the form and send it off in the post.

You can also apply to vote by post online. 

Go to government’s website for a postal vote and download the postal vote application form.

You can only apply to vote by post online for:

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

You cannot apply online for:

•  Scottish Parliament or council elections in Scotland
•  Senedd and local council elections in Wales

To find out how apply for these, contact your local elections team. 

You will need to check when the deadline is to apply to vote by post.

You can find out when that is on the Electoral Commission website.

When you fill out your postal vote application form you will need to complete:

• Your name

• The address where you are registered to vote

• How long you want the postal vote for.

You can tick a box that says you can want it for the longest amount of time possible, which is 3 years.

If you want to vote by post for one election you can add the date for that election.

Write the address you would like your postal ballot paper to be sent to.

If you are applying for a postal vote for more than one election, this is the address that all future postal votes will be sent to.

The address is usually your home address but if you are going to be away, for example on
holiday, you can add the address where you will be staying.

You will need to say why you want to use this address. Your local elections team can help if you are not sure what to put.

You need to put your date of birth and sign the declaration. 

The declaration is where you say all the details you have put on the form are right.
 

If you can’t sign the form, get in touch with your local elections team and they can help.

You will also need to provide your National Insurance number for:

• 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

When you have finished the form, post it to the address provided.

Before the election, you will receive a postal vote pack with a ballot paper that shows you who you can vote for.

You don’t need to wait until election day to complete your ballot paper. You can fill in your ballot paper as soon as you are ready.

The postal ballot pack will include an envelope which you use to send back your ballot paper.

You do not need to use a stamp to post this envelope.

You can also take your postal voting pack to your polling station on election day.

If you have any questions you can call the Mencap election hotline on 020 7696 6009.