Residents who were asked to re-apply for their postal votes will soon receive a letter or email, informing them that their arrangement has now ended. The original notice was sent in June 2025, followed by an email reminder in December. Postal vote arrangements now last a maximum of three years as part of measures to prevent voter fraud. If you did not respond to the earlier correspondence, don't worry, you can still re-apply at any time.
You can apply online via the GOV.UK - Apply for a postal vote service, where you can also download a paper application form. If you are unable to print the form, please contact the Electoral Services team and we will be happy to send you a paper copy.
If your postal vote has expired and you have not yet submitted a new application, you can still vote in person at your allocated polling station.
Reapply for postal voting
The quickest and easiest way to reapply for a postal vote is online.
upload a photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper
provide your national insurance number to verify your identity
You can find your national insurance number on existing documents such as a P60, a payslip, or letters about benefits. If you receive a state pension, it will appear on your bank statement. You can also look it up on the GOV.UK website, although this will require you to upload documents or provide comprehensive information.
If you are unable to provide a signature, or your signature is not consistent due to a disability or difficulty with writing, you can still apply for a postal vote without giving your signature. Please contact the Electoral Services team to request a signature waiver.
If we hold an email address for you, we will send you an email letting you know that your postal vote expired on 31 January 2026, along with information on how to re‑apply should you wish to do so.
To help you identify that the message is genuine:
the email will be titled "Notice of Removal of Postal Vote"
If we do not hold an email address for you, we will notify you by letter instead.
Please be aware that members of the same household may receive their notifications at different times. This will depend on whether we hold an email address for each person.
Until you successfully re‑apply for a postal vote, you will only be able to vote in person at your allocated polling station.
If you need any further information or assistance, please contact the Electoral Services team.
