Apply for a postal vote - GOV.UK
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Part of
Vote in UK elections
Apply for a postal vote
Use this service to apply for a postal vote in:
general elections and other UK Parliamentary elections if you live in England, Scotland or Wales
local elections in England (including mayors)
Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales
national referendums if you live in England, Scotland or Wales
MP recall petitions in England, Scotland or Wales
There’s a different way to apply for the Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament), Scottish Parliament and local elections in
Scotland and Wales
If you’re registered to vote anonymously (this means your name and address do not appear on the electoral register), apply for your postal vote through your
electoral registration office
This service is also available
in Welsh (Cymraeg)
You can no longer apply for a postal vote for the 7 May 2026 elections. You can still apply for a postal vote for use in future elections and referendums.
Start now
Before you start
To apply for a postal vote you’ll need:
the address where you are registered to vote
your
National Insurance number
or other identity documents, for example a passport
the specific date of the election or referendum you want to make a postal vote, if you only want a one-off postal vote
You’ll also need to upload a photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper.
If you cannot provide a signature or one that always looks the same, you may be able to apply for a postal vote signature waiver within the service.
You might be asked for extra documents to identify you.
You must be
registered to vote
in the UK before you can apply for a postal vote.
If you live in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales
The rules are different if you want to apply for a postal vote in
Northern Ireland
for all elections.
There’s a different way to apply for a postal vote for the Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament), Scottish Parliament and local elections in
Scotland and Wales
using a paper form.
If you’ll be abroad during an election
Apply for a postal vote as soon as possible if you:
live abroad
are travelling abroad during an election
Your electoral registration office sends out postal vote ballot packs no earlier than 19 working days before the election. If you need your ballot pack to be sent abroad it can take a long time to reach you and get back to the UK.
If you’re travelling abroad and your pack will not reach you before you travel, you can
vote by proxy
instead.
Stop voting by post
If you no longer want to vote by post and want to vote in person instead, contact your
electoral registration office
. You must contact your electoral registration office no later than 11 working days before the election and by 5pm on that day.
If you want to vote by proxy instead,
apply for a proxy vote
. You must apply no later than 11 working days before the election and by 5pm on that day.
Change where your postal vote is sent
If you’ll be away from home when the postal vote ballot pack is sent out, for example, on holiday or because of work commitments, you can apply for your pack to be sent to a different address. You must apply no later than 11 working days before the election and by 5pm on that day. Contact your
electoral registration office
to change your address.
If you move house
If you move house, you must
re-register to vote
at your new address, then reapply for a postal vote for your new address.
Other ways to apply for a postal vote
If you cannot apply online, download and fill in a
postal vote application form
. Send it to your
electoral registration office
Contact your
electoral registration office
if:
you cannot print a copy of the postal voting application form
you cannot sign a printed form
Get help applying
There’s an
easy read guide about applying for a postal vote online
This page is
Part of
Vote in UK elections
Step
Check if you can vote
Check which elections you can vote in
Step
Register to vote
You’ll need to be registered to vote to take part in elections and referendums. You’ll need to register again if you change your name, address or nationality.
Register to vote - apply online
Register to vote - apply by post
Step
Decide if you want to vote in person, by post, or by proxy
Find out the different ways you can vote
Step
Get ready to vote in person
Check what ID you need to vote
If you do not have photo ID that allows you to vote, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.
Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate
Contact your electoral registration office to find your polling station or to find out what to do if you have accessibility needs.
Contact your electoral registration office
or
Apply for a postal vote
In England, Scotland or Wales:
You are currently viewing:
apply online for a postal vote
apply by post for a postal vote
Apply in Northern Ireland - by post only
Find out more about voting by post
or
Apply for a proxy vote
In England, Scotland or Wales:
apply online for a proxy vote
apply by post for a proxy vote
Apply in Northern Ireland - by post only
Find out more about voting by proxy - including when you must apply by
or
Get ready to vote as a proxy
Check what ID you need to vote
Contact the electoral registration office of the person you are a proxy for to find their polling station or to find out what to do if you have accessibility issues.
Contact the electoral registration office
Step
Vote in person
Vote in person
or
Vote by post
Vote by post
or
Vote as a proxy for someone else
Vote as a proxy for someone else
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