Postal Voting
Royal Mail plays a crucial role in delivering the UK’s democratic process. We are in the unique and privileged position of providing the postal vote service for Parliamentary and local elections.
Postal voting can be a convenient option for those who will be in work, education or on holiday on election day, and for those who live outside of the UK.
If you have registered for a postal vote, you will receive a pack which includes detailed instructions on how to cast your vote and how to return your postal vote.
Once you have marked your ballot paper and completed the postal voting statement, put everything in the pre-addressed envelope and post it. The envelope is pre-paid so there’s no need to add a stamp.
The earlier, the better. Post your postal voting pack back as soon as you can to make sure it’s counted.
If you live abroad, please consider whether time allows for you to receive, fill in and send your postal vote by polling day.
Your postal vote needs to be with the elections team at your local council by 10pm on polling day to be counted. It should be sent no later than Wednesday 3 July. Please check the details of your local postbox (available here) so that you don’t miss the final collection time.
If possible, post it back within the local authority area you are voting in.
From Friday 28 June, you can apply for a replacement postal vote where you have lost or spoilt your ballot paper. You should contact your local Electoral Registration Office to send you a replacement or collect one from there before 5pm on election day (or, if you are in Northern Ireland, the day before).
You won’t be able to vote in person if you’re registered to vote by post.
You will not be able to vote in person at a polling station. Instead, you can take your postal vote to your local polling station before 10pm on election day or to your local Electoral Registration Office before it closes. If you are voting in Northern Ireland, you can only take your paper to the local Electoral Registration Office.
You will need to hand your postal voting pack to a member of staff and fill in a form with your name, address, the number of votes you are handing in and the reason for doing so. If you do not complete the required form, your ballot paper will be rejected.
You are only able to hand in your postal vote and those of up to five other people. If you are a political campaigner, you can only hand in your own postal vote and those of up to five other people who are either close relatives or people you provide regular care for.