How to apply for, and make changes to, your postal vote.
Local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections on 2 May
The deadline for applying for, or making a change to your postal vote is Wednesday 17 April at 5pm. Please visit our 2 May elections pages for more information.
Check if you are registered to vote by post
Tell us about who you are, and we will let you know how you are registered to vote.
Check how you are registered to vote
Apply for a postal vote
Use the government's service to apply to vote by post in elections. The deadline is Wednesday 17 April at 5pm.
Apply to vote by post
Cancel your postal vote
If you have a postal vote you can let us know you want to cancel it. The deadline is Wednesday 17 April at 5pm.
Request that your postal vote is cancelled
Make a change to your postal vote
If you change your name, please make a new postal vote application. The deadline is Wednesday 17 April at 5pm.
Apply for a new postal vote
About voting by post
Voting by post is easy. If you are on the electoral register, you can apply to vote by post.
You can vote by post at just one election, for a set period, or to last as long as you like. However you must reapply for a postal vote every 3 years, or every time you move home.
Each person has to apply for their own postal vote, as you will need to sign the application form.
We will use the information you provide as a check against the security statement you complete with your ballot paper at an election.
If you can't provide a consistent specimen signature
If you cannot provide a signature or one that always looks the same, you may be able to apply for a postal vote signature waiver. Please see GOV.UK's apply for a postal vote page for more information.
How to complete your postal vote
We will start sending out postal vote packs to everyone registered for a postal vote around Thursday 18 April. If you haven't received your postal vote pack by Friday 26 April, please contact us using the details below.
Once you have received your postal vote pack, you need to complete it by following the instructions in the pack. There are some changes from previous years.
You can also watch our video below to help explain the process.
Returning your postal vote
We must receive your completed postal vote by no later than 10pm on 2 May.
Using Royal Mail
The best way to return your postal vote pack is by posting it in a Royal Mail post box using the pre-paid envelope we provide. This way you do not have to do anything else.
Please allow enough time for your postal vote pack to reach us through the post.
Returning your postal pack by hand – extra steps to take
If you hand deliver your completed pack, for example, to a polling station or at the council offices, you now need to complete a supplementary form. Our staff will help you with this. If you do not fill in the form, we will have to reject your postal vote.
You can hand deliver your own pack and no more than 5 other postal packs.
If you are a campaigner, you can only hand in your own postal vote, and those of close relatives or people for whom you provide regular care.
Please do not leave your postal vote in any council office post boxes, reception points or a polling station desk without completing a supplementary form, or we will have to reject it.
Contact us