You can apply for a postal vote if you prefer to vote this way or you’re not able to vote in person.
Apply for a postal vote
You need to apply for a postal vote. You do this after you register to vote. You can apply for a postal vote for:
- one election
- a particular type of election (such as council elections)
- all elections you are eligible to vote in.
You have to apply by 5pm, 11 working days before the election you want to vote in.
You can apply online for a postal vote for elections in England and some elections in Scotland and Wales.
You will need:
- the address where you are registered to vote
- your National Insurance number for elections in England and some elections in Scotland and Wales
- a photo of your signature written with a black pen on white paper
- the date of the election if you only want a postal vote for one election
- your Digital Registration Number if you live in Northern Ireland
There are different ways to apply for a postal vote in Northern Ireland depending on if you want a temporary or permanent postal vote.
Cancel a postal vote
To cancel a postal vote, you need to request this from your local council. You must do this before 5pm, 11 working days before the election you are voting in.
How to vote by post
A postal voting pack will be sent to the address where you are registered to vote or an alternative address if you gave one on your application form.
- Ballot paper or papers
- Declaration form called a ‘postal voting statement’
- Two envelopes
- One for your ballot paper
- One for your postal voting statement and the envelope with your ballot paper
- This second envelope is pre-addressed, so you do not have to worry about where to send it
There are different ways to apply for a postal vote in Northern Ireland depending on if you want a temporary or permanent postal vote.
You can find instructions on your ballot paper on how to cast your vote. Here are some important things to remember:
Sign and give your date of birth on the declaration form
Put everything in the pre-addressed envelope to send off
Make sure your vote reaches your local elections team by 10pm on polling day
You can also hand your postal vote in at your polling station