Elections Act 2022 - Important Update: Changes to Postal Voting
The Elections Act allows electors to apply online for a postal vote for Parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner elections (this service is not available for Senedd and local government elections).
Important Update: Reapply for Your Postal Vote
Due to changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022, all voters who applied for a postal vote before 31 October 2023 must reapply by 31 January 2026 to continue voting by post at UK Parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
What's Changing?
- Postal votes now last for a maximum of 3 years.
- You must reapply every 3 years to keep voting by post.
- You'll need to provide your National Insurance number, date of birth, and a handwritten signature.
Who Needs to Reapply?
If you applied for a postal vote before 31 October 2023, your current postal vote for will expire on 31 January 2026. You must reapply to continue voting by post after that date.
How Will You Be Contacted?
- If you have provided an email address, we will email you about your reapplication. To check that the email you receive is genuine, the email subject will be 'Postal Vote Re-application Notice'.
- Emails will come from official council addresses and may use GOV.UK Notify.
- If we do not hold an email, we will send a paper form out to you between September and December 2025. You may also receive a paper form if you have not reapplied after receiving an email.
How to Reapply
You can reapply:
- Online at gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
- By downloading the following form: Application to vote by post (PDF, 109 KB)
- By contacting us to request a form
Reapply now
You don't have to wait to receive our reapplication reminder to make a new application. You can reapply for your postal vote online now on GOV.UK at any time.
Reapplying now will also make sure the signature we have for you is up-to-date, reducing the risk of your postal vote being rejected due to your signature failing to match our records.
I signed and returned a form recently, why do I have to apply again?
The signature refresh form you recently returned is only for Senedd Cymru and local council elections. The postal vote reapplication process covers UK Parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner elections only. The requirement for both is different.
Deadline
To avoid losing your postal vote, make sure to respond to any communication you receive regarding your postal vote and reapply before 31 January 2026. If you don't, your postal vote will be cancelled, and you'll need to vote in person unless you reapply.
Need Help?
If you're unsure about the process or need assistance:
- Contact the electoral services team
- Check the email or letter you receive for contact details
- Visit gov.uk/apply-postal-vote for more information
The process for a three yearly application process for postal voters who apply for Parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections began on 31 October 2023. Electors who have an existing postal vote prior to the changes coming in, will not need to do anything until 31 January 2026, however the Elections Team will be in touch with you prior to this date regarding the transitional arrangements.
At a Parliamentary or Police and Crime Commissioner election, there will also be a limit to how many postal votes an elector can hand in at any polling station or council building (address on envelope B of your postal pack). You will be allowed to take your own, and up to five others.
At these types of elections, political parties and campaigners will be banned from handling postal vote packs on behalf of electors unless they are handing in their own, a close relative or someone for whom they provide regular care or for whom regular care is provided by an organisation which employs or engages them.
The rules regarding secrecy and who can handle postal votes for the above election types will apply for elections taking place on or after 2 May 2024.
For further information about changes to postal voting: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/our-views-and-research/elections-act/changes-postal-voting
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