Registering to vote and voting at elections

Vote by post

If you do not want to visit a polling station on election day you can apply to vote by post. 

How to vote by post

Once you are registered as a postal voter, you will be sent a Postal Voting Statement and ballot paper to your address before an election.

You will need to read the instructions that come with the pack carefully. As well as marking your vote on the ballot paper, you must fill out the Postal Vote Statement including your signature and date of birth. This is so we can check these details against your application to make sure no one else has used your vote. If your signature does not match the one you gave on your postal vote application, or your date of birth is different, your vote will not be counted.

Your completed postal vote pack must arrive no later than 10pm on election day. You can also hand in your completed pack at your local polling station on election day.

If you're unable to give your signature

In the following situations the council can decide that a signature is not needed and approve a 'waiver':

  • if you can't provide a signature because a disability makes it impossible
  • if you can't read or write
  • if you're unable to sign in a consistent and distinctive way because of a disability or inability.

Please note your waiver form will need to be attested by someone to confirm you cannot provide a signature.

Request a waiver form

Cancel your postal vote

You can cancel your postal vote if, for example, you decide you'd prefer to vote in person or you need someone to vote on your behalf.

You must cancel your postal vote 11 working days before polling day.

For the local and parish elections on 4 May 2023, the deadline to cancel your postal vote is Tuesday 18 April 2023.

Cancel your postal vote

Apply for a postal vote

You must be registered to vote before you can apply for a postal vote.

To apply for a postal vote:

You can apply for a postal vote for just one election, for a certain length of time or permanently.

The deadline to apply to vote by post is 5pm, 11 working days before an election.

For the local and parish elections on 4 May 2023, the deadline for your application is Tuesday 18 April 2023.

Your postal ballot paper can be sent to your home address. You should receive it about 5 days before election day. If you move house or change your name you will need to complete a new postal application.

What we do with your information

The law requires that we provide the details of those who have appointed a proxy or chosen to vote by post to registered political parties, elected representatives and candidates in elections. There is no provision for you to withdraw your consent for this without cancelling your proxy or postal vote arrangement.

We will only use the contact details you provide to speak to you about your application. These details are not provided to anyone else.

Protect your vote

Watch this short video about protecting your postal vote.