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 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.
What you need to apply online
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.
You can contact your local Electoral Registration Office to find out if you already have a postal vote.
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.
What is in a postal voting pack
- 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 don’t have to worry about where to send it.)
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