How do I apply to vote by post?
Fill in the postal vote application form.
Make sure you complete all sections of the form and supply your date of birth and signature. Your
date of birth and signature are needed on this application form, and again when you use your postal
vote. This information is needed to prevent fraud. If you are unable to sign this form, please contact
your electoral registration office.
Return your form to your electoral registration office. You can find their details and more information
at yourvotematters.co.uk
Please do not return your form to The Electoral Commission.
You must return your postal vote application form by 5pm, 11 working days before the poll.
If you are not already registered to vote, your application to register must have reached your electoral
registration office by midnight, 12 working days before the poll.
This form and these deadlines do not apply in Northern Ireland. Visit eoni.org.uk for more information.
Voting by post
Voting by post is an easy and convenient way of voting if you are unable to get to the polling station.
You can use this form to apply to vote by post for a particular election or referendum, for a set period of
time or for all future polls. Postal votes can be sent to addresses in the UK and abroad.
In England and Wales you must be 18 or over on polling day to vote.
In Scotland you must be 16 or over on polling day to vote in local elections and elections to the Scottish
Parliament. You must be 18 or over to vote in elections to the UK Parliament and European Parliament.
Application to vote by post
P1
The Electoral Registration Officer will only use the information you give them for electoral purposes. They
will look after personal information securely and will follow data protection legislation. They will not give
personal information about you or any personal information you may provide on other people to anyone
else or another organisation unless they have to by law.
The lawful basis to collect the information in this form is that it is necessary for the performance of a task
carried out in the public interest and exercise of official authority as vested in the Electoral Registration
Officer as set out in Representation of the People Act 1983 and associated regulations.
The Electoral Registration Officer is the Data Controller. For further information relating to the processing
of personal data you should refer to their privacy notice on their website. You can find their website
address and contact details at yourvotematters.co.uk
Privacy statement
When an election or referendum is going to be held, your ballot paper will be sent to you in the post.
To find out when your ballot paper will be issued you can contact your elections team at your local council.
Make sure you return your postal vote so that it arrives by the close of poll, otherwise it will not be
counted. A Freepost envelope is included in your postal ballot pack. But, if you are sending it from
overseas, you may need to pay the postage.
If it is too late to send your vote back by post, you can hand it in on polling day to the elections team
at your council, or drop it off at certain polling stations.
What happens after I’ve returned this form?
