Voting and registering to vote

To be allowed to vote by post, you must be on the electoral register.

You can apply to vote by post at any time. You don't need to wait until we announce an election.

You can apply online via the GOV.UK website, below.

GOV.UK: apply for a postal vote

You can also download and print application forms from the GOV.UK website at GOV.UK: apply for a postal vote (paper forms).

You need to provide your details including your date of birth. When completing a paper application, you must sign the form. If you cannot provide your signature, we may give you a waiver.

When to send in your application

We must receive new applications by 5pm, 11 working days before an election.

Posting your vote

Your postal vote ballot paper will tell you how to vote by post, along with the date and time by which we need have received your vote.

Royal Mail has 35,000 'Priority Post Boxes'. These all have late collection times, many also have an earlier collection, and some have collections between 3pm and 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday. You don't have to use a Priority Post Box for your postal vote but if you need to find one, go to Royal Mail: services near you.

Changing or cancelling your postal vote

You can change or cancel your postal vote before 5pm, 11 working days before an election.

You cannot vote at a polling station once we've sent you a postal vote, although you can hand your postal vote into your polling station if you prefer.